S. Sudanese presidency downplay alleged rift in ruling party leadership
December 12 ,2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese presidency has downplayed reports suggesting there could be another division within the leadership of the country’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), stressing the need for re-unification.
“The president did have a meeting with members of the Political Bureau thrice, but he never made such statement”, Ateny told Sudan Tribune Friday evening.
He was reacting to reports quoting senior officials who met and held series of meetings with the president seeking his permission to approve the number of participants, authorize and direct allocation of financial and logistical resources as well as assets to facilitate the convening of the much anticipated ruling party leadership meeting.
Ateny said the president remains committed to the full implementation of the Arusha reunification of the ruling SPLM.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit is on top of those SPLM leaders who are yearning to see the Arusha Intra-Party Agreement being implemented in letter and spirit”, said Ateny.
“The president owing to his resilient and steadfast leadership, made every sacrifice to return this country to normalcy. And so, he cannot liken his comrades with dogs, if they had chosen to come back to the country for the sake of the unity of the country and that of the ruling SPLM”, he stressed.
However, a senior party official separately told Sudan Tribune that the president had indeed uttered those words in an attempt to emphasize a point about political challenges facing the leadership and not that he wanted to utter derogatory statements.
“The president uttered these remarks not with bad intention. He wanted to emphasize a point and it is unfortunate that the words have been interpreted to mean something which he did not intend by some circles”, said official, who preferred anonymity.
A close ally of Kiir, the official insisted he knew the context in which the former spoke.
“I know President Salva Kiir personally very well. We were in Kurmuk and I was in his headquarters. We were also in Rumbek and I was one of the senior commanders under his command. I have been with him since 1985. I know him very well so whatever he says, whether it is due to emotions or intended to say, I can tell without hesitation”, he said
(ST).