SPLM-IO condemns Kiir’s “collegial” decision on allocation of states
Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President and the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO during an IGAD summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo Credit: Nyamilepedia.)
May 8, 2020 (SSNN) — South Sudan’s SPLM-IO has condemned a decision by President Salva Kiir claiming that the parties collegially reached an agreement on the allocation of states as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.
The presidency issued a communiqué on Thursday saying Kiir and Machar had reached an agreement on the allocation of state governors.
The statement purports that the parties agreed to gibe Kiir six states of Unity, Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, Lakes, Central Equatoria and Warrap.
SPLM-IO would take Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Western Equatoria and Jonglei. SSOA would take Upper Nile state.
In a statement, the SPLM-IO spokesman and deputy interior minister Mabior Garang said his group condemns the decision and that it was taken unilaterally by Kiir.
“The SPLM/SPLA (In Opposition) strongly condemns the regime’s attempt to derail the peace process. As the public is aware, the regime has dragged their feet on the implementation of the security arrangements, with nothing much having been achieved so far,” Mabior said.
“The security arrangements of the Agreement are paramount to the success of the rest of the Agreement because without proper security arrangements, we are talking about a negotiated surrender and not a negotiated settlement,” he added.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) has not surrendered to the regime; we have only made a compromise we can live with as the least costly way to end the suffering of our people – whose hard-won independence is being flouted with impunity in Juba.
“It is unfortunate that the very people who have caused the immense suffering of our people – as well documented by the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (commonly known as the Obasanjo Report) – are now trying to politicize this suffering in a plot to use the idea of peace to undermine the practical work that will bring peace; the implementation of the Agreement.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) calls on members to be vigilant and remain steadfast in the struggle to bring about fundamental change in our country and destroy the unbearable status quo which has prevailed since the days of colonialism and slavery. The intransigence of the regime has been clear throughout the peace process and it has now culminated in the regime’s unilateral decision to form a government on May 12 in violation of the Agreement.
“This is possible because of the flawed nature of the peace process; which has the regime and her politico military allies as mediator and party to the conflict, while the SPLM/SPLA (IO) leadership has negotiated this Agreement with its leader in detention without charge.
“The regime and her allies are also members of the African Union (AU), making it impossible for this body to hold the regime accountable. The people of South Sudan should understand that we are on our own.
“The regime is insisting that the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), Dr. Riek Machar Teny, go to Juba without security arrangements in place. There are also leaked contracts alleging that the regime has hired an American firm to help them undermine the peace process, in particular to circumvent justice and accountability.
“In light of this, the leadership of the Movement calls on members to embark on a national mobilization campaign to enlighten our people about the regime’s intransigence, the prospects for war and peace in our country and the need to end the regime’s killing of our people.
“If the regime fails to implement the security arrangements and decides to form the government on May 12, the SPLM/SPLA (IO) – the revolutionary leadership of the people’s war – shall not be responsible for our people’s reaction.
“We take this opportunity to reiterate our full commitment to a genuine peace in our country, and our conviction that the SPLM/SPLA (IO) shall not succumb to the struggle for positions. The People’s Movement shall wage the struggle to dismantle the status quo to its logical conclusion; whether it is through the negotiated settlement or through the armed struggle shall be determined by the methods the regime chooses to uphold the unbearable status quo.
“The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) shall spare no effort in our endeavour to transform this armed struggle imposed on us into a national democratic revolution that will fulfil the promises of the liberation struggle.”
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