S. Sudan youth leader mobilizes for armed rebellion

August 29, 2016 (KAMPALA) – A South Sudanese armed opposition (SPLM-IO) youth leader allied to the country’s former first vice president Riek Machar has called on young people to join the rebel movement, which he described as the only party organisation that represents diverse ideology.

Omojok Obac said South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) lacked the basis of democracy and equality and should be abandoned infavour of the SPLM-IO’s “inclusiveness”.

He urged South Sudanese youth to join the armed opposition and champion democracy, freedom and equality.

“The SPLM/A-IO youth league also urges all south Sudanese to Join this Party with great political vision, objectives, and goals that are able to tackle all problems and challenges our country is currently facing,” he told Sudan Tribune.

The youth leader welcomed the recent solidarity shown by the Congolese government after it aided the exit of Machar from the bushes of Western Equatoria state where he had been holed up for weeks after leaving Juba last month.

The armed opposition leader was forced out of the South Sudan capital following clashes between his forces and those loyal to President Salva Kiir near the presidential palace on 8 July. More than 270 soldiers died in the clashes.

According to Obac, President Kiir’s government allegedly failed to implement the peace agreement mediated by leaders from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

The armed opposition youth leader insisted that the young men and women in the country had a role to play to end the fighting as they did during decades of war with Sudan. He claimed South Sudan will never be a free state unless all sector reforms for the liberty and equality of people takes place.

(ST)