South Sudan opposition leadership unveils plan to change regime
January 6, 2017 (JUBA) – Political leaders and various armed opposition groups and individuals with grievances against the government of President Salva Kiir in South Sudan have come together and unveiled a plan and strategies to force his administration to relinquish power or negotiate in good faith.
The group, according to a statement released by the Union of South Sudan students in Kenya, held the meeting on January 4th at the house of Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, widow of the founding leader of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) which has now split into several factions. The purpose of the meeting, according to the release, was to unify views of the opposition and individuals with grievances against the government of President Salva Kiir.
The statement which carried the name James Malwal Akuei Chairman of South Sudan Student Union in Kenya and Peter Koak Joak, Deputy Chairman of South Sudan Student in Kenya and William Wani Kenyi, Secretary General of South Sudan Student Union in Kenya, claimed the meeting was attended by Paul Malong Awan, former army chief of staff, South Sudanese ambassador to Russia, Telar Riing Deng, Oyay Deng Ajak, former minister of National Security, Col. Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, former Western Equatoria state and Gen Mac Paul, former Director General of military intelligence.
The groups have allegedly agreed in principle to put behind their differences and work together to remove the government under President Kiir by coming out with strategies to implement the plan.
“They have agreed to topple the government and In order to speed up the downfall of the TGoNU (Transitional government of National Unity) , they agreed that Gen. Paul Malong Awan, has promised that his Aweil boys in the SPLA army in Greater Equatoria will join forces with Gen. Thomas Cirilo’s National Salvation Front to attack Juba. They also agreed that Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak will go to Khartoum via Addis Ababa to meet General Samora Yunis, Chief of Staff of Ethiopian Defense Forces, before proceeding to Khartoum in order to persuade Ethiopian Defense Forces to provide military logistics to the forces that will attack Jub. After one week, Gen. Paul Malong Awan and Gen. Thomas Cirilo will fly to Khartoum to meet Gen. Johnson Olony, Gen. Agaany Abdel-Bhagi Ayii, Dr. Lam Akol, Gen. Bapiny Monytuil Wejang and Gen. Peter Gatdet to unify their forces to attack Aweil, Aweil East, Ruweng and Northern Liech state,” the statement extended to Sudan Tribune reads in part.
The youth group condemned the meeting and called on the international community to impose sanctions on the former army chief, Paul Malong, Oyay Deng Ajak, Thomas Cirilo and Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, claiming they were disrupting revitalization of the peace agreement.
“We, the South Sudan Student Union in Kenya, condemn in the strongest term possible this new military alliance between Gen. Paul Malong and opposition groups which will undermine the IGAD High-level Revitalization Forum scheduled to resume in February. The people of South Sudan are tired of war and they need peace. It is unacceptable that Gen. Paul Malong would join the opposition groups to topple the Government because he was removed from his position. The people of South Sudan cannot be made to suffer because of positions. The South Sudan Student Union in Kenya is appealing to IGAD, AU, UN and Troika to impose sanctions on Gen. Paul Malong, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, Gen. Thomas Cirilo and Rebecca Nyandeng Garang for their plan to disrupt the IGAD High-level Revitalization Forum. The international community should not allow Gen. Paul Malong Awan to get away with crimes he has been committing against civilians since December 15, 2013,” the statement notes.
Sudan Tribune was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the statement.
Several government officials claimed they have credible reports the meeting had taken place.
(ST)