Kiir says “regime change policy” for his government holds despite peace

May 6, 2016 (JUBA) — South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said a policy to oust him from power is holding despite forming transitional government of national unity with his rival and first deputy Riek Machar.

Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of his advisers in Juba on Friday, the South Sudanese leader said implementing the accord signed eight months ago is the only way to end the war and usher in an era of peace.

“This peace was designed in a way that we cannot sign it. It is difficult to implement and I said this from the day I signed it,” said Kiir in a briefing to advisers broadcast by South Sudan TV.

“But we must implement it (peace) and end the war all over the country. There are some people instigated in Equatoria and Bahr El Ghazal to fight the government. It is our duty now as members of this [transitional] government [of national unity] with the First Vice President Riek Machar to cease fighting all over the country,” he said in what appears to first admission of existence of opposition forces in the two region.

The two and half years conflict was largely confined to Upper Nile region states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. The government insisted there are no SPLM In Opposition forces in Bahr El Ghazal and Equatoria despite series of clashes with government forces.

NO FUNDS

President Kiir also blamed the international for pressurizing him to form interim with a promise of funding it, only to backtrack.

“Riek Machar returned to Juba on April 26 and took oath of office on the same day. How many days have passed to May 06 (Friday) today? Have anyone heard over media any country pledging to support the peace implementation? No,” he said without naming donors that pledged to fund the transitional government.

The South Sudanese President went on to accuse unnamed countries of holding on a strategy to oust him from power.

“The regime change policy has not got. It is still there. There are people who want us out from here and bring in new faces. So, we have to work hard to implement the peace agreement by following the implementation matrices. I think it is possible,” he said.

President Kiir’s accusations against foreign countries is not new. He said in 2014 that some countries wanted to dismantle the ruling SPLM to erase the historical party and install a new regime.

(ST)