W. Bahr el Ghazal activists protest over IGAD’s peace proposal
August 4, 2015 (WAU) – Activists in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state joined hundreds of residents to protest against the recent compromise peace proposal from the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Those who took to the streets opposed IGAD’s proposal of 53% power sharing percent given to rebels in greater Upper Nile region, adaptation of two armies and demilitarisation of the capital, Juba.
“We the community and civil society in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, who are carrying out the declaration had expected from the IGAD group to resolve the conflict between the government of South Sudan and (SPLM-IO), through a peaceful non-violent approach,” partly reads the petition also extended to Sudan Tribune.
“At our amazing, we realised that there were some burning issues in the IGAD’s documents which will fuel up the conflict if they are agreed upon. At this juncture, we strongly condemn and reject points, one, the 53 percent in the power sharing allotted to the opposition in the greater Upper Nile Region will later result to the separation of one country,” it added.
The protestors tasked the UN mission in Western Bahr el Ghazal to forward its suggestions to the IGAD mediators in Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile, Bibahuga duly acknowledged the civil society’s petition.
“I affirm publicly that I have peaceful received your document and I will peacefully pass it on as you require,” said Bibahuga.
“The United Nation Mission in South Sudan stands firm in the quest for peace in this Country and we listen to the people’s aspiration for peace and I believe this document will contribute to the dialogue on the peace process that is going on in Addis Ababa,” she added.
The regional bloc’s recent peace proposal gives the SPLM in opposition, led by former vice president Riek Machar 53% in Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei states. The government takes 33% while the opposition parties and former political detainees are given 7% each.
The government, the proposal says, will control 53% of the executives at national level, rebels 33% and 14% divided by ex-detainees and other political parties.
South Sudan’s oilfields, which provide 98% of government revenue, are in Unity and Upper Nile state. Though the agreement did not give details on how the revenue will be shared between the two factions, President Salva Kiir accused unnamed groups of attempting to steal the nation’s wealth, using Machar as their shield.
According to IGAD, talks between the two warring factions will resume on 6 August, with a final peace deal expected on 17 August.
(ST)