Changson Chang’s splinter group criticizes IGAD for concluding S. Sudan peace agreement

August 28, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A splinter group calling itself Federal Democratic Party (FDP) and South Sudan Armed Forces (SSAF) under the leadership of Gabriel Changson Chang, has strongly criticized the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for concluding a final peace agreement between various parties without them being recognized as a separate entity to the peace deal.

In a statement issued by Changson on 26 August, the day president Salva Kiir signed the deal in Juba, he demanded that his group should be included in the peace talks, despite the fact that the final deal has already been sealed by the main warring parties, and all the other stakeholders including other political parties and civil society organizations in the country.

“We demand that the FDP/SSAF, as one of the parties to the conflict be included in the peace talks,” Changson said in the statement he signed together with a handful of allegedly disgruntled some Nuer elders including Gabriel Yoal Dok, Thompson Thoan Teny, Michael Mario Dhuor and Timothy Tot Chol.

Changson said even if his group had no military base, it should have been treated like some of the other stakeholders in the peace talks who had no military bases on the ground.

“There is more than one stakeholder in the Peace Talks that have no military bases and are represented in the Talks. This is clearly a double standard treatment which should not have happened in the negotiation,” he complained.

Changson also accused IGAD of working to unify the ruling SPLM factions in the country.

A banker, and former minister of culture, youth and sports in the national government before the 15 December 2013 crisis, Changson belonged to a different opposition political party, but was accommodated in the government.

He has been critical of any agreement that brings the ruling SPLM party back together, with observers saying this was mainly the cause for his split from the rebel faction led by Machar, as he feared that he would be sidelined in the decision making processes unless he decided to join the ruling party.

The group seeks to make a separate negotiation with the government and to secure a different power sharing deal, although they are seen to be insignificant with no much support on the ground.

Rebel leader Machar is reportedly said to be reconciling with the other two senior commanders, Peter Gatdet and Gathoth Gatkuoth, to rejoin the movement and take part in the implementation of the peace agreement.

(ST)