South Sudan: SPLM/A(IO) Shames UN Special Envoy For Endorsing Formation of Transitional Government
David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), briefs the Security Council(UN Photo/Loey Felipe)
Oct 7, 2019(SSNN) — South Sudan’s main armed Opposition, SPLM/A(IO), has responded to a recent statement issued by the UN Special Envoy to South Sudan, David Shearer, during a press conference in Juba.
Disappointed, the SPLM(IO) said they will not be coerced to form another Transitional Government of National Unity that may caused more bloodshed as witnessed in 2016.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to state for the record that a coerced peace will never prevail in South Sudan and forming the R-TGoNU – under a false pretext that we shall discuss the outstanding issues as a Unity Government – is a mockery of justice.” Said Mabior Garang de Mabior, the SPLM/A(IO) National Committee Chairman for Information and Public Relations.
“We have tried this in 2016 and it led to the paralysis of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU). What makes the UN Special Envoy imagine that the same events shall not be repeated.” Mabior continued.
The SPLM/A(IO) recommends that instead of the President and the two Vice Presidents meeting to discuss the reservations of President Salva Kiir, it will be the five Vice Presidents meeting to discuss the outstanding issues.
The SPLM(IO) warns that the armed opposition has no intention to relinquish its quest for reforms and other fundamental changes and unless their recommendations are considered they shall set a timer for “another explosion”.
“Since the SPLM/SPLA (IO) – the true voice of the suffering masses of South Sudan – has not been swallowed politically and have no intention of abandoning the reform agenda and the movement insist on fundamental change, we shall essentially be setting the timer for another explosion. This is the ‘status quo’ ante July 2016, which erupted into a war well documented by the UN Panel of Experts.” He said.
“. In light of the recent statements by President Salva Kiir at the prayers in J1, the ominously similar statements of the UN Special Envoy, the unserious utterances of the Minister of Information of President Salva Kiir and the counter insurgency tactics of the regime’s security organs – a clear indication that peace has collapsed – the SPLM/SPLA (IO) shall not be responsible for the obvious outcome and we reserves the natural right of self-defense.” Mabior continued.
The SPLM/A(IO) is wondering of why the United Nations is now trying to endorse “a rogue regime that is against radical reforms” and wants to maintain status quo through military means.
“What could be the incentive of the UN Special Envoy in endorsing the mischief of such a rogue regime?
“The movement would like to caution our members and the citizens of South Sudan at large to exercise intellectual vigilance in these uncertain times in our history.”
“It has become painfully obvious that the regime is against radical reforms and is instead insisting on maintaining an unbearable status quo which has prevailed since the days of colonialism and slavery, which has subjugated our peoples ever since.” Mabior reiterates.
The SPLM/A(IO) is accusing the government of using counter insurgency tactics to pursue violence and warns that it is not a weakness for the opposition to observe ceasefire.
“The regime is also engaged in counter insurgency tactics, which recently manifested in the asinine declaration of Gen. James Ochan Puot. The regime should not take the observance of the ceasefire by the SPLM/SPLA (IO) as a weakness, or they will live to regret it” Reads part of the SPLM/A(IO) Statement.
Facebook Comments