Former Lakes state governor deserts former detainees
January 18, 2016 (JUBA) – A senior official of the group known as the Former Detainees (FDs) or Group 10 (G10) has defected to the faction of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) under the leadership of President Salva Kiir, and declared his support to the controversial 28 states created on 2 October by the government.
“In the spirit of the Arusha Re-unification Agreement and after consultations with my constituency following the incorporation of the ARA into the SPLM constitution by recently concluded SPLM 1st extraordinary convention, I hereby declare the end of my membership in the SPLM FDs/G10 and joining the re-unified SPLM under the leadership of H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, chairman of the SPLM and president of the Republic of South Sudan with effect from today 18th January, 2016,” Mayay said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.
Mayay, who was a former governor of Lakes state, was detained in December 2013 by South Sudan national security and later on released into foreign soil (Kenya) with most of his colleague swell-known as SPLM former detainees.
He was sacked by President Kiir after three years in power following his election as governor of Lakes state in 2010.
Although he did not explain a reason for the defection from the group led by former SPLM secretary general, Pagan Amum, there are speculations that he differed with his former colleagues over the creation of 28 states. His colleagues voiced their concern over the 28 states, calling it a violation of the peace agreement signed in August with the government.
He said it was too late to revoke the creation of the 28 states, appealing to the parties to accept the decision and move the country forward.
“Before I conclude, let me briefly mention something in regards to the issue of 28 states. In as much as there may be challenges to it, we must accept the reality that it is an irreversible popular demand of our people and all efforts need to be put to addressing the technical and any other challenges that come with it,” he said.
The motives behind the change of his mind to join the government under President Kiir he once described as undemocratic and has lost vision and direction remains the subject of speculations.
Observers attribute the cause to the way the allocation and selection of the positions given to the former detainees was recently conducted. Sources with direct knowledge of the selection claim Mayay had hoped he would be nominated to occupy the position of the minister of transport which was allocated to the group and gave it to former justice minister, John Luk Jok Jok.
He was later overheard claiming the process was “bias and unfair”, accusing the group to have used seniority as the basis of selection and nomination.
He said he will be instead working with President Kiir to implement the peace agreement and end the suffering of the people of South Sudan.
(ST)