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South Sudan’s Panyijiar county commissioner rejects IGAD-Plus peace proposal with rebels

July 26, 2015 (JUBA) – A commissioner of Panyijiar county of the war-ravaged Unity state in South Sudan has rejected the peace proposal by the East African regional bloc, IGAD-Plus which gives armed opposition faction fighting against the government 53% of power sharing in the oil-rich greater Upper Nile region.

William Nyuon Jok, commissioner of Panyijiar county and ex-body guard of former vice- president, Riek Machar, said he would not accept a peace agreement that will make his former boss control three states of greater Upper Nile region, describing him as a person only fighting for “power and wealth.”

In a press statement he extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, Jok said the arrangement by IGAD-Plus was a recipe for a continuation of war in greater Upper Nile region, adding the Nuer had no right to control the region as they constitute only 55% of the total population in the area. He said there are also many tribes in greater Upper Nile including Dinka, Shilluk, Murle, Anyuak, Jie, Kachipo and Maban communities.

“On behalf of the heroic people of Payinjiar County and indeed on my own behalf, I take this ample opportunity to express my bitter concern and categorically reject the latest IGAD-PLUS peace proposal on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan that rewards Riek Machar and his cronies with power to control the three states of greater Upper Nile region,” commissioner Jok’s statement partly reads.

He said the proposal did not take into account the composition of communities in the region in addition to the military situation on the ground, claiming that out of the total 32 counties (districts) in greater Upper Nile region, the rebels controlled only 5 counties while the government had remained in control of 27 counties.

Panyijiar county, which Jok administers from Juba, is under the control of the rebel faction of Machar, but the commissioner said it would not take long before they regain control.

“In Payinjiar county for instance, Riek Machar and his terrorists are facing imminent defeat as local population is rising up against him and it’s a matter of days before our heroic youth dismiss his criminal thugs from the great land of our ancestors,” he said.

The pro-government commissioner also complained that Machar’s group marginalized his Nyuong-Nuer community in the rebel movement, saying he had been using them as “foot soldiers” in the ranks and file of the opposition.

“The notion that we are only cheer supporters and foot soldiers must cease. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. A leader not guided by such principles must be rejected by the heroic people of Payinjiar county,” he added.

“I appeal to our intellectuals around the world to join the government because it’s their rightful side that stand ready to address the challenges facing the people of Payinjiar county. By surrendering greater Upper Nile region to Riek Machar and his rebels, IGAD-PLUS is giving us yet another free ticket to kill ourselves. This is because Riek Machar and SPLM-IO do not represent the aspirations and interest of the people of greater Upper Nile region,” continued the commissioner.

The former long serving bodyguard of the former country’s vice president also accused his former boss of allegedly wanting to put the “blood” of people on “auction” in his quest for power.

“Only God knows where we are heading to,” he added.

“As people with blood, we are tired of this endless bloody quest for power by Riek Machar and want to forge a new beginning. I therefore, call on the people of Payinjiar County and the people of Upper Nile region to join me in rejecting this IGAD-PLUS proposal because it’s a recipe for another bloody war.”

He said it was better to maintain the status quo under the leadership of president Salva Kiir rather than to give power to the rebel leader.

(ST)

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