Pagan Amum reinstated as SPLM secretary-general
June 23, 2015 (JUBA) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Tuesday endorsed reinstatement of Pagan Amum as secretary-general of the South Sudan’s ruling party, in implementation of Arusha agreement to end the 19-month-conflict.
A month later, the parties on 17 February agreed on the implementation mechanisms and called on South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir, who is also the chairman of the SPLM-in government to revoke the decision that dismissed party leaders.
On Monday, the former secretary-general returned to Juba as his group said they are resolved to turn the page on the past events and look forward to achieve peace, reconciliation and national unity.
An emergency SPLM National Liberation Council (NLC) early on Tuesday reinstated Amum in accordance with the Arusha deal after President Kiir reportedly asked the lawmaking body of the SPLM to revoke his February 2013 decree on the dismissal of the party’s secretary general .
After being sworn in late on Tuesday, Amum told reporters that he will organize an apology rally to the south Sudanese affected by the war triggered by SPLM power struggle, as it is provided in the Arusha agreement.
“We shall apologize to the public and I hope we shall do our best to end the war,” he told reporters.
Amum’s swearing in ceremony at SPLM House in Juba was attended by President Kiir and facilitated by Lauren Khor Bandi, the presidential advisor on religious affairs.
Kenyan defence minister Raychelle Awour Omamo and a number of senior members of NLC as well as government cabinet ministers witnessed the ceremony.
Thousands of people were killed and millions uprooted from their homes when political debates on reforms within the ruling party turned violent.
SPLM officials say the return of Amum and the members of the former detainees group, will help end war.
“This is a good news for south Sudan, for SPLM members and the entire region as well as the international community,” Akol Paul Kordit, the SPLM political bureau spokesperson said after the morning meeting.
The leader of the SPLM-in opposition and former vice-president Riek Machar met last weekend with the Kenyan president to discuss the ongoing processes to reunify the SPLM and bring peace in the country. But nothing filtered from the encounter.
Also the leadership of rebel movement, which seems more interested in IGAD-led peace process, is holding consultations meeting in Nairobi on issues pertaining to the promotion of peace process.
The SPLM-IO says there is a need to address the root causes of the conflict and reach genuine reforms in order to achieve a meaningful peace agreement that will ensure no future return to similar differences and crisis in the country.
(ST)