Machar condemns Kiir’s actions as threat to peace agreement and unity of people

October 18, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition leader of SPLM (IO), Riek Machar, has condemned a series of unilateral decisions made by president Salva Kiir after the signing of the peace agreement in August, saying these moves were undermining the implementation of the peace deal and unity of the people of the country.

Machar, who has become the first vice-president designate in accordance with the peace agreement brokered by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, and its international partners, in a press conference he organized in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday, accused Kiir of acting as if he had not signed an agreement.

“Salva Kiir is acting as if there are no agreements,” Machar told journalists.

“We see more violations every day rather than moving forward toward the implementation of the agreement,” he said.

On October 2, president Kiir made a unilateral decision by announcing creation of 28 states, splitting the current 10 states on the basis of which the peace agreement was signed and power sharing arrangements anchored to.

The move was condemned in the country and worldwide by the armed opposition SPLM (IO), former detainees, alliance of South Sudanese opposition political parties, civil society organizations in the country, IGAD and members of the international community including troika (United States, United Kingdom and Norway) and the European Union, saying it was a violation of both the constitution and the peace agreement.

The international community called on Juba not to proceed with the implementation of the unilateral decision, but president Kiir’s government said it would continue with its implementation.

Machar said Kiir was “oblivious” to the peace agreement by creating the 28 states, saying the unilateral decision coupled with lack of understanding on the provision for demilitarization of the capital and other major towns in the country were undermining the peace deal.

CONDEMNS DISSOLUTION OF SPLM STRUCTURES

In a separate statement, the opposition leader condemned another unilateral decision by president Kiir’s government dissolving structures of the ruling party (SPLM).

“On October 16, 2015, President Kiir made a unilateral decision to dissolve the structures of SPLM party. The entire leadership and members of SPLM/SPLA (IO) disapprove of this act which violates the principles to reunite the party enshrined in the Arusha Agreement signed by various SPLM factions 21st January 2015,” Machar said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

He challenged that the decision “stabbed” the unity of the people of South Sudan, saying the SPLM is a “vanguard” party capable of uniting the country and the people of South Sudan, and called on the people to condemn and resist the dismantling of the party.

“We call upon the members of the SPLM and the people of South Sudan to condemn and resist this decision,” he said.

Earlier, Machar however added the SPLM (IO) was still committed to dialogue with the government in order to save the agreement.

“We will dialogue with them even though we don’t think it is practical. We will give it another go. We want to salvage the peace agreement,” he said.

The 21-month long war erupted on 15 December 2013 when political debates over internal reforms within the ruling party turned violent.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed millions others displaced internally and to the neighbouring countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, with millions more threatened by hunger and diseases.

The peace deal signed in August by the warring parties carried hope that the suffering of the people in the war-ravaged region would come to an end. However, recent developments seem to undermine the implementation of the accord.

(ST)