Kiir asks officials to be ready to leave positions for SPLM-IO nominees

November 13, 2015 (JUBA)- President Salva Kiir has asked senior government officials to be prepared to leave their positions to members of the SPLM in Opposition as part of the implementation of the peace agreement.

Speaking at the swearing in of the new Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Deputy Secretary General, Jema Nunu Kumba on Friday, Kiir told the the leadership of the ruling party that he is ready to name nominees of the SPLM in Opposition into the government as soon as possible to end the war.

“We are for the implementation of this (peace) agreement, even if it means tomorrow that when those who are fighting us come in and they are to be given positions in the government. And (when) you are told to get up from your chairs and it is given to those who have been fighting us, for the sake of our country you will have to get up and allow somebody to come in,” he said.

“What we don’t accept from them it is this force. The thing of doing it by force is what we will not accept, because when we were fighting, they used to run. They would run to take a rest in Khartoum,” he said.

The President named Nunu into the position this month, replacing Ann Itto. She took oath of office at the SPLM house in Juba

In a related development, sources at the presidency claimed President Kiir was forced on Thursday to cancel a state of nation address because the conservative elements in his government wanted to include in the speech the issue 28 states and reservations of the government on the peace agreement if the government was to proceed with the implementation.

While the liberal group, however, advocated the drafting of the speech must emphasize on the implementation of peace, security arrangements with rebels and how to address economic situation in the light of plummeting consumer prices.

(ST)