Machar aide blasts peace implementation critics

May 13, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Spokesman of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Gatdet Dak, speaking to journalist in Kenya in 2015 (Photo credit: Unknown)

May 13, 2020 (SSNN) – A senior aide to South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on Wednesday blasted critics of the SPLM-IO role in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

James Gatdet Dak, the press secretary at Machar’s office said critics were blaming the SPLM-IO with the misperception that the group should lonely carry out reforms without the participation of other parties to the revitalized peace deal.

“In our case in South Sudan, reform agenda is provided for in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). And this may take three years and beyond in order to realize a meaningful reform in our country,” Gatdet said this afternoon.

“It is incorrect for some who may be thinking that the sought for Reforms automatically come with the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), which is not even completed yet,” he added.

“Also, it is another misperception for some critics to be thinking that it is the SPLM/SPLA (IO) that can single-handedly bring about the needed Reforms, be it political Reforms, institutional reforms, economic reforms, and even social reforms. It is all the Parties and institutions that can collectively bring about the reforms, guided by the Peace Agreement.

“Well, yes, SPLM/SPLA (IO) can lead and push for the realization of the Reforms as a party’s internal policy, but it is the whole R-TGoNU to implement it. And it takes time! For instance, the issue to do with repatriation and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees is a priority, and, of course, it comes within the timelines of the implementation of the R-ARCSS.

“The same is true with the Transitional Security Arrangements, which implementation has unfortunately lagged behind. The point I am trying to make is that Reforms are not a one day event. It is a gradual process, some of which many people may not notice that they are gradually happening as they happen over the weeks, months and years. But they are happening!

“However, constructive criticism is not a bad thing, because it can serve as a reminder, an encouragement, and even a wakeup call. But destructive criticism is counter-productive, and more often than not aims to confuse the public and to destroy rather than to build.”