South Sudan’s ruling SPLM makes unity top priority
September 1, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) would make reconciliation, unity and forgiveness a top priority during the transitional period of the government of national unity, a leading official said on Tuesday.
“The launch of the national reconciliation would be the priority of the SPLM leadership during the transitional period. This work will be spearheaded and supported by the entire secretariat and the leadership of the SPLM to achieve peace, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness,” Kuol told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
“I am sure comrade Pagan Amum in his capacity as the secretary general will devote time and energy to overseeing any initiative aimed at uniting the party, uniting the ranks of the leadership and our people,” he said.
The leading official underscored that the recently signed peace should not be read as a reward or return to the status quo but rather an opportunity to allow the ruling party to correct itself and accept their actions.
“There can be no agreement with provisions satisfying the wants and desires of all the parties. Agreement world over are means of resolving problems. They are not the end to the problem. We all have to talk about peace and always nurture it for us to success as a nation. We should not let revenge rule our lives,” he added.
While stressing on the significance of the plan for national reconciliation, he left details vague on precise timetable for foreign troops to withdraw from the country, and laws disqualifying former members of the party who may be found to have masterminded and played an important role in fermenting the conflict from important jobs.
He also failed to offer a clear view on any strategy for disarming the militias, which are currently seen as the greatest security threat.
Observers are keen to note that any amnesty for militants will not apply to people who have perpetrated violent acts but would not be possible without mutually transformative engagement with partner organizations and leaders who provide various gifts and resources to the initiative.
He urged state residents to prioritise peace and provide support in the implementation of the peace deal which President Salva Kiir has signed, saying it provides an opportunity to resolving the differences and putting the country on the right path instead of putting personal ambition and interests to jeopardise efforts to bring peace to the country, following the signing of regional backed peace deal.
Kuol was one of former detainees who were detained for months by president Kiir’s government following eruption of violence in Juba in December 2013.
He was also dismissed by president Kiir before violence after he was accused of involvement in corruption involving millions of dollars while a cabinet minister.
(ST)