S. Sudan opposition party says IGAD proposal a “one party” solution
August 2, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese opposition party has described the recent proposal by regional mediators to end the nation’s conflict as a path to one party system.
“IGAD [is] focusing on the ways to resolved the current conflicts without thinking of the political future of the country,” said Peter Mayen Majongdit, the interim chairman of PLP.
“You cannot empower one party with 93% of power; one party that has failed to deliver for the last ten years,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) plus five other African countries as well Trioka (US, Norway and United Kingdom) proposed that President Salva Kiir will have 53% of executives at the national government, 33% to rebels led by former vice president Riek Machar and 14% equally shared between former detainees and other political parties.
The three factions of SPLM, in government, rebels and former detainees disagreed on internal democracy and their differences resulted to outbreak of conflict in December 2013.
Majongdit said mediators have failed to address the root cause of the conflict and risk breeding future war.
SPLM UNITY
“The IGAD-Plus should not proposed a government of national Unity with multiparty democracy state by entrusting 93% of powers to one party unless we are to pushing for a communalist state in South Sudan indirectly,” he said.
“The Interim government should not be called a government of national Unity But a government of SPLM Unity”, he added.
He called on all political parties to reject the participation in the proposed government dominated by the ruling SPLM party.
“It seems that violence and armed opposition are the principle of power sharing in South Sudan,” he said.
PLP was formed in February, but quickly came into light for critical views on the government of President Kiir leading to detention of Majongdit in April for seven days. PLP did not participate in the IGAD led peace processes and is not entitled to power sharing in any government that might be formed as a result of the IGAD peace proposal.
The government and rebels have until 6 August to return to Ethiopia, after consulting their respective constituencies in Juba and Pagak respectively. A final peace deal is expected to be signed by 17 August or parties risk facing sanctions and arm embargo.
President Kiir has indicated he will not sign any deal that gives opposition three states of Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei where the conflict is concentrated around the oilfields.
(ST)