South Sudan president directs state governors to welcome SPLM-IO officials

June 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir has directed the country’s state governors to welcome members of armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of his political rival and first deputy in the coalition government, Riek Machar in the interest of peace and stability.

“I want you to go back to the states and tell people that Riek has come. He is now in Juba and the new government of national unity in which he and his members have been appointed has been formed. It is the government that will work for the implementation of peace agreement and tackle the economic matters. So go and tell people to embrace peace and stop unnecessarily fighting and killings”, said President Kiir.

“Also I want you to welcome members of SPLM IO when they go to the states, whether as individuals or group. They will be going to visit their families, their relatives and friends, welcome them”, he added.

Kiir, according to the governor of Ruweng state, also urged them (governors) to sensitize communities on the importance of peaceful of coexistence and to explain the prevailing political situation in the country after the formation of the government national unity.

“We have received directives from his Excellency, the president of the republic, General Salva Kiir Mayardit to sensitize communities to accept each other and live in peace,” Governor Mayol Kur explained to Sudan Tribune in an interview on Saturday.

“The creation of states was not to divide people and kill themselves, no the objective as it was explained by the establishment order was to take the government and the services close to them to the people in light with the vision of the SPLM”, he further added.

(ST)