SPLM-IO warns of collapse of peace deal over new states
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
October 14, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The leadership of South Sudan’s armed opposition group (SPLM-IO) said President Salva Kiir’s failure to retract his move to expand the country’s states from 10 to 28 threatens to unravel the recently-signed peace agreement.
The opposition led by first vice president designate, Riek Machar, immediately rejected the decree saying it was unconstitutional and in breach to compromised peace accord.
They warned it will derail the peace deal brokered by the regional bloc, Inter-governmental Authority on Development and could slide the country back in to war.
Kiir, however, defended his move saying it was in response to demands by the South Sudanese.
In a statement, Mabior Garang de Mabior, the national chairperson for information and public relations within the opposition group on Wednesday warned that the president’s decree on creation of new states will further drive the youngest nation into abyss.
The rebel official further said the armed opposition group was deeply alarmed by the situation “unfolding” in Warrap state of South Sudan.
The group alleged the presidential decree issued without consultation of communities has led to inter and intra tribal conflicts between the communities in Warrap state particularly among Luanyjang and Rek Dinka communities.
“There is also a similar situation unfolding in Upper Nile State between the Chollo community and the Padang Jieng/Dinka communities”, reads the statement.
The leadership of the rebel group said federalism was the popular will of the people of South Sudan and called on all the communities in South Sudan to reject the decree and not to allow such politics to divide them.
“The intention of this decree is to further divide the people of South Sudan along ethnic lines, in a futile attempt by a small clique in Juba to hold on to power,” said Mabior.
The implementation of the recently signed peace deal, he said, provides the best opportunity for the people of South Sudan to restore peace in the country and to participate in an all-inclusive national dialogue to allow them determine their social and political future.
The two South Sudanese warring factions signed a final peace deal in August to end the 21-month long conflict that killed tens of thousands of people in the young nation.
However, the two warring sides have continued to engage in clashes with both sides accussing the other of violating the terms of the compromise peace agreement.
(ST)