SPLM ex-detainees set to return to Juba and re-unite with Kiir
May. 30 Featured, Uncategorized 11 comments
By FRED OLUOCH, TheEastAfrican Special Correspondent, May/30/2015, SSN;
IN SUMMARY:
The return — which is part of the reunification of the three SPLM
factions as per the Arusha agreement signed in January — is seen as a
major boost to President Kiir’s side after the government in March
issued a decree of amnesty to all those in exile.
The adoption came as a result of diplomatic efforts by Kenyan and
Ethiopian foreign ministers, plus mediators of the Inter-Governmental
Authority on Development, who in the past week consulted President
Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and President Kiir.
The new arrangement gives 10 former detainees, who were released after
President Kenyatta intervened, a major role in reconciling the warring
factions.
However, the rebels led by Dr Machar, said the former detainees were
simply trying to gain relevance at a time when there was still
increased fighting between the two warring sides.
Negotiators of the South Sudan peace process in Addis Ababa have
adopted the Arusha Accord in a fresh bid to end the 17-month civil
war.
The Accord — signed by those loyal to President Salva Kiir, former
vice president and SPLM-IO head Riek Machar and party officials —
seeks to reunite the three SPLM factions.
The adoption came as a result of diplomatic efforts by Kenyan and
Ethiopian foreign ministers, plus mediators of the Inter-Governmental
Authority on Development, who in the past week consulted President
Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and President Kiir.
The new arrangement gives 10 former detainees, who were released after
President Kenyatta intervened, a major role in reconciling the warring
factions.
Five of the former detainees were scheduled to travel to Juba on June
1 for two-day consultations in a bid to reunite the three SPLM
factions.
Former Cabinet Affairs minister Deng Alor will lead former Finance
minister Kosti Manibe, former Justice minister John Luk, former Postal
Services and Telecommunications minister Madut Biar, and Cirino
Hiteng, a former minister for Culture, Youth and Sports.
Dr Hiteng told The EastAfrican that the former detainees would work to
narrow the gap between President Kiir and Dr Machar and hasten the
implementation of the Arusha Accord and the Addis Ababa process.
“We have remained moderate and have not been an obstacle to the peace
process,” said Dr Hiteng. He added that after Juba, the group would
visit Pagak to deliver the same message to Dr Machar.
The five were set to leave for Juba, accompanied by South African
Vice-President Cyrile Ramaphosa, Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi
Secretary-General Abdulrahman Kinana, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet
Secretary Amina Mohamed, and Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Tedros Adhamon.
President Kenyatta on May 29 met the 10 former SPLM officials and
former detainees, representatives and guarantors of the Arusha Accord.
Those in the meeting were Mr Adhamon, who is the chairman of the Igad
Council of Ministers, Ms Mohamed, Mr Kinana, representatives of Igad
and two special envoys from South Africa, Reddy Mampane and
Mandlenkosi Memela.
Pagan Amum, the former SPLM secretary-general, said their first task
was to unite the SPLM party and to deal with obstacles blocking the
Igad process, which had not made significant progress because the
South Sudanese leaders, including himself, had been stubborn.
The return — which is part of the reunification of the three SPLM
factions as per the Arusha agreement signed in January — is seen as a
major boost to President Kiir’s side after the government in March
issued a decree of amnesty to all those in exile.
South Sudan Ambassador to Kenya Mariano Deng told The EastAfrican that
the government had guaranteed the security of the former detainees
based on the Constitution and had even allowed them a minimum of 60
soldiers from countries of their choice to witness their protection
while on the ground.
However, the rebels led by Dr Machar, said the former detainees were
simply trying to gain relevance at a time when there was still
increased fighting between the two warring sides.
The SPLM-IO representative in Kenya Adel Sandrai said the credibility
of the former detainees was dented because the conflict was brought
about by the mismanagement of institutions that the detainees were
part of.
The former detainees — who were among 11 politicians arrested in
December 2013 for disturbance, and charged with treason — have been in
exile in Kenya for over a year.
The initial seven were released in late January 2014, with the
remaining four released in April after the government dropped charges
against them. The four are Mr Amum, former security minister Oyay Deng
Ajak, former deputy defense minister Majok D’Agoot Atem, and former
envoy for Southern Sudan to the United States, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth.
The government maintains treason charges against Dr Machar, former
governor of Unity state Taban Deng Gai and Alfred Ladu Gore, the
former Environment minister, who are accused of being behind a coup on
December 15, 2013. END
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11 Comments
Mawien Magol
May 31, 2015 at 5:41 am
Personal, I thanks those SPLM political detainees for not
supporting violence since their arrested in 2013, this is how the
politicians does things, because you try to distancing yourselves from
the use of deadly violence. I hope the Southern Sudanese people will
respected those 10 SPLM political detainees for not taking guns
against their own citizens. Many Southern Sudanese people have a
strong believes that, the conflict would have been maintains in Juba
about 17 Months ago if the former vice president was not addicted to
creation of rebellion. Also I view Dr. Lam Akol as the real politician
guy who never fear for being arrest just like Dr. Hassan al Traubi
does in the Northern Sudan. I have come to belief that, the former
vice president is not actual a politician this is why he had never
understand how politics are play particular, when the nation is
combining too many tribes like South Sudan then, the politician should
avoiding supporting violence.
As a native of South Sudan, I would like to take this chance to
welcome you all 10 SPLM detainees back to your country and works so
hard to to bring peace. I am also advice you not to feel negative for
having arrest because for being in jailing does not mean you are
guilty but until it is proven guilty and also it is very likely to be
jail at any time if thought about leadership and politics. General
speaking, the Southern Sudanese people have no problems with you
although your associated with former vice president was not clear why
many SPLM members were desperately for one position of president
instead working for the people and the nation first than person
interest. Once again, welcome back to your country and feel free to
walked and talks to your friends, relatives, citizens and living as
normal but keep away from being accused again because all eyes of
Southern Sudanese people are going to facing you every single day and
night base on what you says. For former vice president Riek Machar, I
think he had ink the Arusha for three SPLM Reunification and he has
the choice to make between accepted peace deal or continuation of
unnecessary civil war which have led people suffering and lives lost
for political differences and I belief the former vice president will
never recover from his too much baggage.
Reply
Raankan
May 31, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Good move for Former Detained to return home to work for peace and
Nation building
Reply
Eguatorians
May 31, 2015 at 2:08 pm
False move by the G10 group, as they have completely forgotten the
root causes of the conflict. Self interests shouldn’t override your
principles and pretend that there were no issues that led to the
crisis of Dec. 15th. 2013. To make things worse, tens of thousands
civilians lost their lives in the conflict and it is still ongoing.
Shouldn’t we fix those problems instead of sweeping them under the
carpet. Volcanic eruptions are unpredictable and south Sudanese
problems,if not addressed, may erupt again.
Reply
alex
May 31, 2015 at 4:40 pm
This is what we want to see in South Sudan. We are the same
people, one people and one nation. There is no need for us to fight
again. We are tired of wars and we should allow our children to study
so that we join the rest of the world in persuing development. I know
in a family we may have desputes but we should always try to settle it
peacefully. What is important now is to teach our people tolerence,
respect for our constitution, Protection of our country from foreign
aggression democracy based on differences of political idology not
tribal differences. Guns are for wicked people who did not believe in
democracy. We should put the interest of our people first not our own
interest. The young people should embark on intellectural politics not
those cheap backword tribal politics. The youth must disassociate
themselves from any politician who is trying to use tribal politics.
We should humilite such politician so that they will not be able to
mislead us and die prematurely. They are wise because their children
are studying in foreign lands and they come to kill the poor men
children while keeping their children safe. The youths should
understand that prosperty can not and will never be achieved by guns
because guns can not and will not defeat the will of the people. The G
10 should be praised because blessed are the peace makers for God will
call them his children. The step they have taken is a wise one and
they deserve a praise because they listened to the common man cry in
our country. May God bless G10.
Thanks
Alex
Reply
Charles
June 1, 2015 at 5:15 am
From other sources, this information is not completely
correct. The G10 instaed have now assumed a different role that of
mediation. They are said to be going to Juba, not to re-join the
SPLM-IG but to plead for them to narrow their differences with the
SPLM-IO. They will later also travel to Pagak to meet with the SPLM-IO
for the same. I for one do not see their mission producing any
success, given the fact that both warring parties are not happy that
this group has not joined either of them. This is mission impossible.
But I guess, they have to try.
Reply
james mulbah
May 31, 2015 at 9:57 pm
This fight between the government and the rebels is meant to put
South Sudan on the path to democracy. And at the end of this war, no
single South Sudanese leader including the president will rule or want
to rule for life.Every South Sudanese will be able to run for office,
and there will be a presidential term limits of two terms after which
another person will be given the opportunity to be voted into office.
Those who will be elected will be accountable to the people and if
they do not perform, the people of South Sudan will vote them out of
office. And in Uganda, where Mussevini, is ruling for life, democracy
in South Sudan will be a big threat because of the developments that
democracy will achieve in such a short period of time.
Finally, South Sudan will understand why Mussevini is a spoiler.
And the chance will be given to all South Sudanese to be what they
want to be in Democratic South Sudan.
Reply
Citizen311
June 1, 2015 at 2:04 am
Its hard to determine whether the G10 have made the best decision
at this point. Firstly they are of no threat to the government
considering what can they really do? Secondly they were granted
Amnesty which can be revoked anytime with impunity from the Kiir
regime, it will only require a misguided decree and all of them are
back in jail.
Human beings can only be oppressed for a certain period of time
and after that they will react and fight back. There are so many root
causes to where we are right now but the most obvious ones being
Tribalism and Corruption. For a multi cultural country like South
Sudan 80% of the government being DINKA while at the same time they’re
crying of being marginalised just makes you understand there will
never be peace in South Sudan unless the system is restructured.
Otherwise cheaply claiming a right to everything based on a childish
idea that you liberated the country will keep Machar in the bush also
to Liberate South Sudan people from the TYRANNY of KIIR and his
henchmen.
Reply
Ogalam
June 1, 2015 at 9:59 am
G nothing is trying to gain legitimacy to look as Peacemakers
while they were the one who failed to build institutions that led to
massacre in our country. G nothing should not be give a chance to
unite SPLM again to loot our country. SPLM is not South Sudan. South
Sudan is for all political parties and if at all there is a move to
unite parties, it should not be now but after the peace talk in Addis
Ababa. And it should be done for all the parties to avoid awakening
the SPLM monster.
Reply
jok lual
June 1, 2015 at 11:51 am
bravo mr Deng Alor brothers can fight and forgive well come
back.the problem is not you is Riek machar and nyandend
Reply
Francis
June 1, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Good move, let them come back home to their country and I hope too
that the internet war mongers do the same. War is not good. It is easy
to fight it online but it is difficult to fight it on the front line.
Welcome home G10 and anybody of good will.
Reply
info@southsudannation
June 1, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Francis,
The problem in South Sudan isn’t ‘good will’ but the
pervasiveness of Kiir’s trained murderers aka…SPLA.. to inflict terror
and murder and absolute circumvention of the rule of law.
These tribal guys in the personalities of the Marials, the
Pinys and the Paul Malongs, are trained and unapologetic murderers and
these traitorous G10 will sooner find themselves in Juba being denied
their basic human and civil rights, like Dr. Lam Akol, and some of
them might be eviscerated sooner.
Kiir, like his predecessors Mengistu, Mobutu, Obote, Amin,
Bokassa, Gaddafi….etc, has tasted the sweetness of power and he has
all those jiengs who have immensely benefited from that power in Kiir
and as typical of megalomaniacs….especially the semi-educated like
Kiir, he won’t abdicate voluntarily or accept conducting an election
that is going to depose him.
So, only expect these G10 returnees sell-outs and thieves to
destroy the hopes of the oppressed South Sudanese whose only hope was
to see Kiir and his henchmen to face the guillotine or the hangman’s
noose, not some jubilant welcome reception.
Editor
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