S. Sudan activists ‘disappointed’ by Kiir, happy with Machar over women representation in gov’t
South Sudan arch rivals, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former deputy, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, leader of the SPLM/A in Opposition gazing at each other’s eyes during peace process in Khartoum in 2018(Photo credit: shared/unknown)
June 30, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan activists have said that they are disappointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit but were happy with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny over the representation of women in state governments.
Yesterday, Kiir appointed eight state governors including six for himself and two – out of three – for SPLM-IO.
Kiir did not appoint any woman as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement which provides for the representation of women at all levels of governments by at least 35 percent.
All the six governors of Lakes, Unity, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria, for Kiir’s SPLM-IG, were appointed among male politicians.
Machar who only has three states appointed one woman as governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, which is the required 35 percent in the revitalized peace agreement.
In statements on Tuesday, activists expressed their disappointment on Kiir saying he has violated the revitalized peace agreement which clearly states that the women shall be represented by 35% at all levels of governments.
They further thanked Machar for being committed to the agreement in letter and spirit.
“We would like to congratulate IO for appointing a female governor for Western Bahr el Ghazal, but we are so disappointed by the government,” Edmund Yakani of CEPO said in an interview with Eye Radio today.
“We are aware that….there are renowned women in SPLM; there are influential women. There is no vacuum that there is absence of women in the party. We know they are there and they are many. Obviously, from the government side, it is a total violation,” the prominent activist added.
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