IGAD Proposals: SPLM-IO welcomes suspension of 28 states, Juba accepts
transitional gov’t
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February 2, 2016 (JUBA) – The leadership of the armed opposition
faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) Tuesday
welcomed the call of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD), to suspend the controversial 28 states and form a transitional
unity government.
JPEG - 19.7 kb
President Salva Kiir meets SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai,
in Juba, December 22, 2015 (ST Photo)
SPLM-IO further said political decisions made by President Kiir’s
government outside the peace agreement are seen by the armed
opposition’s leadership as proposals that have no legal binding on the
constitution and the peace deal agreed by all parties in August last
year.
On the other hand in Juba, the government has “accepted” the
communiqué from IGAD, but it concentrated on the call to form a
transitional government.
The East African regional bloc, IGAD, on Sunday issued a communiqué,
calling on all the parties to the Agreement on the Resolution of
Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) to form a transitional unity
government at the national level without an amended new constitution.
IGAD also called on President Kiir’s government to “suspend” the
implementation of the 28 states he unilaterally created on 2 October
after the peace agreement, describing the decision as “inconsistent”
with the provisions of the peace deal which only recognizes the
existing 10 states in the country.
The communiqué also called on the parties to establish an inclusive
boundary commission with membership of all parties to the peace
agreement in order to review creation of more states, and in case of
disagreement, the parties should revert to the 10 states as provided
for in the accord.
A media official of the armed opposition faction said the SPLM-IO
leadership welcomed the IGAD decision to suspend the unilateral
creation and implementation of the 28 states, adding it should
therefore be treated as a mere suggested policy on governance by
President Kiir’s faction.
“The leadership of SPLM/SPLA (IO) has commended the decision which
calls for suspension of the 28 states. The parties should abide by the
peace agreement and form a Transitional Government of National Unity
(TGoNU) in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement,” James
Gatdet Dak, official spokesman of the opposition leader, Riek Machar,
told Sudan Tribune.
He said since the current constitution only recognizes 10 states as
also stipulated in the peace agreement, there is no reason not to
incorporate the provisions of the peace deal and pass a new
constitution as the basis for formation of a new unity government.
He however said the decision to suspend the 28 states implies that the
10 states which have been in the constitution and in the agreement
shall prevail until in the future when consensual change may take
place on the number of the states.
The 28 states, he said, should be treated like the rest of political
proposals from other parties in the country if “President Kiir’s
administration” wanted to table it for discussion in the future.
“If it is a political decision of one party or faction to create 28
states after signing the peace agreement based on the existing 10
states, then this decision is not legally binding and should not
therefore appear anywhere in the constitution, as it is not in the
peace agreement. It should be treated as a suggested policy proposal
from one party,” he added.
Dak also said the SPLM-IO has a party policy which has suggested
creating 21 states in South Sudan which are based on former colonial
districts and their boundaries as they stood from 1956, but added they
don’t want to impose it and violate the agreement.
“We don’t try to impose on the constitution our party policy to create
21 states. We keep it as our proposal to be tabled before the other
parties to the agreement at an appropriate time,” he said.
He said if President Kiir has suggested 28 states as a political
decision or policy of his faction, the two or more suggestions will
then be discussed when time comes using the mechanisms in the peace
agreement.
Meanwhile, he said, the parties should abide by the agreement which
should be incorporated into a new constitution based on the 10 states
as recognized by both the constitution and the “supreme document”, the
peace agreement.
Besides violating the power sharing deal for the states, the
controversial 28 states, he added, are problematic as they are
intended to grab lands from certain ethnic groups and annex them to
another ethnic group.
The decision by IGAD, a body which mediated the peace process between
the South Sudanese parties, seemed to have partially echoed previous
decision by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) over
the 28 states.
Festus Mogae, chairperson of JMEC, a body which is established by the
peace agreement to oversee its full implementation, described the
creation of 28 states as “political” and not “legal” matter, urging
the parties which involve the armed opposition faction of SPLM-IO led
by former Vice President, Riek Machar, and former detainees and other
political parties to reach a consensus on the “political matter.”
Mogae, former President of Botswana, however called on them to form a
unity government at the national level and delay formation of state
governments until they reached a consensus on the number of states.
JUBA ACCEPTS THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT
Information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told reporters after the
Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) meeting on Tuesday
that there is an agreement to form TGoNU
“JMEC had its fourth meeting, and in this meeting, the meeting went on
very well and in the meeting we discussed the communiqué which was
issued by IGAD and we adopted the communiqué as it is, as the best
option and the way forward and as a roadmap for the implementation of
the agreement and the establishment of the Transitional Government of
National Unity,” Lueth said.
He said they also agreed to deploy about 3,000 components of the joint
police and military forces from the opposition faction.
“So we have agreed that, yes, within this coming short period we need
to work hard and ensure that the security elements from the [SPLM] IO
are brought in. That the police of 1,500 for Juba town and the police
for the greater Upper Nile of 1,200 are also brought in and the other
security forces of 1,410; all should be brought in as soon as possible
so that the first Vice President [Riek Machar] comes in and the
transitional government of national unity is established. This is what
we discussed. This is what we agreed,” he added.
It is not clear whether the government has also accepted to suspend
the 28 states and withdraw its excess forces from Juba.
President Kiir last week said the issue of 28 states was a “red-line”
and a decision which will not be reversed, adding it was a demand of
the people of South Sudan.
During the peace negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa,
the SPLM-IO proposed creation of 21 states based on a federal system
of governance, saying federalism was a long time popular demand of the
people of South Sudan. The government however refused the proposal at
the time, saying there was no money to fund more states and threatened
to take the matter to the people for a referendum.
IGAD stepped in and forced the parties to sign the agreement based on
10 states, but provided a mechanism in the agreement for all parties
to discuss the future system of governance during a transitional
period of 30 months in a permanent constitutional making process.
However, 39 days later after the signing of the agreement, the
government unilaterally made a U-turn and decreed creation of 28 new
states. Other parties and mediators condemned the action, saying it
violated the agreement and called on the government to reverse the
decision.
(ST)
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3 February 00:22, by Malakal county Simon
People’s of South Sudan cannot be hold hostage over useless of 28
States proposal, they were never consulted when 28 States was created
by one man or group.
Further more, if the if this illegitimate government or the
president were really looking for a true more States to be created,
why then rejected SPLM_IO 21 States proposal, which based on clear
boundaries and quite popular??
repondre message
3 February 00:31, by Force 1
IGAD don’t run South Sudan but the leaders and people of South
Sudan run South Sudan and therefore we are happy with the creation of
our 28 states. The foreign powers who think they don’t like 28 states
is their own problem because they don’t live in South Sudan or run the
affairs of South Sudan! The pinheads who can’t run their own states;
well let the IGAD run it for them!
repondre message
3 February 00:46, by Mr Point
I paid good money for a map of the 28 states.
But the map was not good quality. All the red lines have
now washed out. What a waste of time and money!
repondre message
3 February 01:02, by Force 1
Mr. Point’
You and your IGAD will be governing South Sudan online
but not on the ground in South Sudan.
How long ago now? It’s been over 20 months since the
conflict started in South Sudan; but did IGAD forces leaders in South
Sudan to do anything they don’t want? Absolutely not!
Just keep dreaming that South Sudan is going to be run
by foreigners; it will be over coffins of all Dinka!
repondre message
3 February 01:17, by Mr Point
You don’t speak for South Sudan. You don’t speak
for all Dinka.
There are many Dinka who reject your outdated
tribalism of the kind that has caused this country severe pain.
And it is probably fair to say that you fear and
distrust the Dinka intellectuals of Abyei - just as Kiir is afraid!
repondre message
3 February 01:21, by Mr Point
Kiir fought a civil war and created huge
national debt in order to get rid of Riek Machar and create 28 states.
What has Kiir achieved in two years of war and
uncounted civilian deaths?
He has got Riek returning as VP and the
country will continue as 10 states.
Clever Kiir?
And what has been the effect on the price of
onions in Juba?
repondre message
3 February 01:23, by Force 1
So do you; you don’t speak for all South
Sudanese either including IGAD; your opinion isn’t everyone else
within your own tribe let alone the entire South Sudan!
repondre message
3 February 01:27, by Mr Point
Does any one want to buy a map of 28 states from me?
The red lines are washed out. The 28 states have no
public support or any legal basis.
You could say the map of 28 states is worthless.
repondre message
3 February 00:53, by Malakal county Simon
Slave/force 1
When did you surveyed the evidence that’s show the
citizens are really happy with this segregated tribal domination
proposal?? Or you just woke-up from hang over and start to support
this stupid idea without being studying first?? Anyway, let’s me
reminds you, if you’re happy, that is absolute you as an individual,
and not the opposite......
repondre message
3 February 01:08, by Force 1
Malakal county Simon;
Who is a slave? The one who want to be govern by
foreigners or the one who refused to be govern by foreigners?
Please be logical; when nuer massacred Dinka in Akoba,
Bor, Bentiu was it because we had tribal segregation or was it because
we created 28 states?
What kind of brain do one has to have to be that
highly irrational?
repondre message
3 February 00:39, by Malakal county Simon
Cont....
In order for a genuine peace to return, this segregated issue
of 28 States supported by one tribe (jaang) out of 63 tribes in the
country, must be put aside so that the (TNUG) can be form as quick as
possible...... The issue can be discuss later in public like other,
like 21 proposal, or to maintain the current 10 States as long as
people’s are happy with whatever they want.....
repondre message
3 February 05:58, by Dinka-Defender-General
Well, I am waiting for my brother-law who killed my cousin
because she was a Dinka. Nuers don’t think. How would you killed your
wife. I hope he doesn’t come to Juba. He will face justice or he will
face heavy consequences. Believe me.
repondre message
3 February 00:51, by Mr Point
So, Malarial County Simon, will the Jieng Council of Elders go to
war, as they said they would, now that Kiir has backed down from his
red lines after facing overwhelming pressure from
IGAD,
UN,
Troika ,
and also anyone with the sense to see that South Sudan can not
progress with a tribalist government.
repondre message
3 February 01:04, by Malakal county Simon
Mr point
We will see where they will go from here and if they want to
make their threat into reality, it is a welcome move...... Let’s watch
for the next few days to comes...... quote from Gordon Buay!! The
issue 28 States will not be reverse, because it is better for heaven
and earth to come, then reversing 28 States....... This guy is
building his political suicide for benefits of other......
repondre message
3 February 01:13, by Force 1
If you’re too dumb to govern yourselves in one of your 28 states;
then you’re not going to be smart enough to change anything about the
28 states!
repondre message
3 February 01:30, by Mr Point
I’m sorry Force1. I am too dumb to understand the point you’re making.
Could you explain it more clearly please. How does your
solution solve the country’s problems:
Tribal conflict
Massive Corruption
Rampant inflation
Underdeveloped economy
etc
repondre message
3 February 01:55, by Force 1
Mr. Point;
We have been in 10 states for over 10 years; did we lessen
Tribal conflict, The Massive corruption, Rampant inflation, and the
Underdeveloped economy in the last 10 years in 10 states? Absolutely
not!
So; according to your logic; we should keep doing the same
thing and expect different result?
repondre message
3 February 03:59, by Lotodo Awino Odug
whether you agree with him or not? you will have to tell
us for sure who are willing to share the states with you. you dumb,
naive rebels.
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