Dr. Lam meets Machar hours after welcoming states resolution

June 19, 2020 (SSNN) – Prominent South Sudan opposition leader and secretary-general of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin this evening met the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny hours after welcoming a deal on the states reached by Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

This afternoon, Dr. Lam who is also the chairperson of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), issued a statement along with the SSOA military chief, General Bapiny Manytuil, welcoming the deal reached on Wednesday by Kiir and Machar that ended the states deadlock.

The two men agreed to give six states to Kiir’s side, three to Machar’s side and one state to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance.

Immediately following the announcement of the deal, Josephine Lagu, the chairperson of the alliance issued a statement rejecting the deal because it didn’t secure them the oil-rich Upper Nile state which it had long sought.

However, Dr. Lam and Bapiny issued a statement this afternoon and welcomed the deal, differing with Lagu because they believe the deal will end the suffering of the people of South Sudan in the states.

James Gatdet Dak, the spokesman for the First Vice President said in a statement that Dr. Lam visited Machar this evening and congratulated him and president Kiir on the decision they took.

“He congratulated both His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and His Excellency, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, on reaching a breakthrough. He met with the First Vice President today, Friday, 19 June 2020,” Gatdet said in the statement seen by South Sudan News Now.