Senior SPLM-IO official says opposition to negotiate foreign force deployment
September 5, 2016 (JUBA) – Mabior Garang de Mabior, chairperson of national committee for information and public relations in the opposition faction of the SPLM-IO commended the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for forcing the government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir to accept deployment of additional regional troops to the war-ravaged country.
He however added that it was important for the opposition forces of the SPLA-IO to participate in the further negotiations on the details of the force deployment.
“The Leadership of the SPLM/SPLA – in Opposition (IO) welcomes the Joint Communique by the SPLM/SPLA in Government (IG) and the members of the United Nations Security Council, dated 2016/09/04. The SPLM/SPLA – IO salutes the courage of the other warring party in reaching this decision after being vehemently opposed to it,” Mabior said in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“The SPLM/SPLA IO believes this is an important step in resolving the contradictions that have emerged in the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) after the collapse of the security arrangements on 2016/07/08,” Mabior added.
Mabior, also a member of the political bureau, the highest political executive organ of the opposition party, argued that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) should also consult with the opposition faction under the leadership of Machar on the details of the deployment of the force.
“The SPLM/SPLA – IO, under the leadership of the legitimate Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhuorgon; who is also the legitimate First Vice President, advises the SPLM/SPLA – IG and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to consult the SPLM/SPLA – IO in any negotiations for the deployment of the Regional Protection Force,” he said.
This, he added, will ensure that the forces of the SPLA-IO will “observe” any decision made during the negotiations.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) would also like to take this opportunity to express our full commitment to the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 2304 and all related communiques, which will allow the leadership of the SPLM/SPLA – IO to leave the UNMISS PoC’s and return to resume the implementation of the ARCISS in letter and spirit. This will also ensure the return of the legitimate FVP who was forced to flee Juba after the collapse of the Security Arrangements of the ARCISS on 2016/07/08,” he added.
Mabior, eldest son to late leader John Garang de Mabior, who founded the SPLM ruling party in 1983, is currently in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where he fled to following the 8 July clashes in the capital, Juba.
(ST)