South Sudan opposition alliance seeks global pressure for peace implementation
December 1, 2015 (JUBA) – An alliance of eighteen non-armed South Sudanese political parties have called for global pressure on the two main warring parties to the conflict to implement the peace agreement which president Salva Kiir and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, signed in August to end the 21 month long violent conflict in the country.
Martin Abe Aligo, secretary general of the alliance said the international community, and in particular, the members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United States of America, United Kingdom, Norway, China and the United Nations should take a leading role in the implementation.
“The people of South Sudan feel a difficult phase has started; the phase of implementation. The international community should now take a leading role more than they did during negotiation processes,” said Aligo.
“They need to double efforts and put a bearing pressure on the parties to demonstrate their commitment and compliance with the terms of the peace agreement,” he stressed.
Among those advocating for sustained global pressure on the parties to implement the peace is the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), the second largest unarmed party in the country, according to the result of the 2010 general elections.
The group of 18 allied political parties said the transitional government of national unity should undertake “major changes and institutional reforms” in order to hold and conduct fair, free and democratic elections after the end of the 30 months of transitional period.
‘”Elections cannot be held without major changes and institutional reforms. The transitional government would be charged with adopting a new constitution, making various reforms and organizing “credible” general elections within two years,” the group said without specifying how it might be formed.
It appeals to the citizens to not “cede to blackmail, intimidation and manipulation.”
The opposition political parties will share 7% of power sharing in the transitional government of national unity in accordance with the peace agreement.
Coming weeks are expected to witness tangible steps in the implementation of the deal when the advance team of the armed opposition faction of the SPLM-IO travels to the national capital, Juba, this week.
The team is expected to travel to Juba on Wednesday or Thursday, according to officials of the opposition group.
(ST)