SSAF leaders visit 2005 CPA signing venue in Kenya
October 18, 2015 (JUBA) – The leadership of South Sudan Armed Forces (SSAF) visited Friday the historic site of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which brought to an end over two decades of the north-south Sudan civil war.
The accord was signed in the Kenyan town of Naivasha on 9 January 2005.
Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth described the visit as “crucial” having come at a time when South Sudanese leaders allegedly failed to bring sustainable peace in the country.
He said “selfishness, personal and political interests” had marred the noble idea the late John Garang had for South Sudanese during the long liberation struggle years. Garang was a signatory to the CPA with then Sudan’s vice president, Osman Taha.
The SSAF official criticised the recently signed agreement mediated by the regional bloc (IGAD) between South Sudan’s warring factions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“In stark contrast [to the CPA], the recent, pretentious IGAD-Plus imposed Compromise Peace Agreement between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar is a farce that is meant to hoodwink the world and in particular the people of South Sudan,” he said.
The compromise peace agreement, Gatkouth stressed, was signed without the consultation and inclusion of the other major parties to the South Sudanese conflict, citing factions such as FDP/SSAF, REMNASA and the Aguelek forces.
Such an agreement, according to Gatkouth, also contravenes the spirit of the initial CPA agreement and has produced a recipe for chaos and further bloodshed.
“It is a non-inclusive agreement meant to benefit selfish individuals who will stop at nothing to ensure their own individual advancement is achieved,” he explained.
The SSAF official described the recent accord as an “imposed” compromise agreement, which merely reunited a divided SPLM house to reward a small group with majority of power (over 90%), leaving the rest of the country with a mere 7%.
“This selfish recklessness has huge implications in building a democratic country,” he said, adding “Such short sightedness will undoubtedly lead to further complications in the search for lasting and sustainable peace in South Sudan”.
CRITICIZE NEW STATE CREATION
Meanwhile, the leadership of the SSAF has strongly opposed President Kiir’s recent decree, which could result into the creation of 28 new states in the country.
“The issuance of establishment order 36/2015 decreeing the formation of seven more states on top of Dr. Riek’s own decreed 21 states is just a ploy to create more positions to reward their small circle of cronies,” further said Gatkouth.
“What is needed is wide inclusion in discussion and not dictatorial pronunciations that further aggravate the peace,” he added.
The official, however, pledged that the SSAF leadership was dedicated to providing long term solutions that are inclusive for all parties involved and will continue to provide objective solutions and a way forward for the prosperity of the South Sudanese people.
(ST)