S. Sudan presidential spokesperson says Machar’s return depends on Taban
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August 9, 2016 (JUBA) - The spokesman of South Sudan president, Salva
Kiir, said the return of the ousted First Vice President, Riek Machar,
to his position is at the mercy of Taban Deng Gai who replaced him.
JPEG - 13.6 kb
South Sudanese Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny addresses
journalists following renewed fighting in Juba July 11, 2016 (Reuters
Photo)
Presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, whose government had accepted
in principle and welcomed the deployment of the regional protection
force in the country, said the government would not be compelled to
remove the new first vice president if he does not want to step down
from his new role.
"They (regional countries) are urging him (Machar) to return to Juba.
What happens if he returns is an internal matter. And this matter lies
with Taban Deng Gai to decide whether to step down or does what he
thinks is right in the interest of peace. What is clear is that there
is no law compelling him to do so. The IGAD has allowed the current
setting and it is a matter of Deng to decide if he steps down and go
back as minister,” explained Ateny in an interview with reporters on
Monday.
This came after Juba last week agreed to allow in foreign troops as
part of the African Standby force agreed upon by the African Union
(AU), United Nations (UN) and the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD).
It further encourages Machar to rejoin the peace process and for
President Kiir and people to embrace a return to the spirit of long
lasting peace in their country. During the recent IGAD summit in
Ethiopia, South Sudan agreed to the deployment of protection forces in
Juba.
But the opposition faction led by Machar accused President Salva Kiir
of using Gai to divide the SPLM-IO and destroy the peace deal. They
also warned that destroying the peace agreement can backfire on all.
“President Kiir and his group may be excited that they have a yes man
through whom to destroy the peace agreement by dividing the SPLM-IO.
But this will backfire on them if their goal is to return the country
to war. You may not know what will happen next in a situation of war,”
said James Gatdet Dak, Machar’s spokesperson.
He said Gai has quickly denied the existence of SPLA-IO army per the
agreement, calling on it to be immediately integrated under his new
commander-in-chief and also compromised other provisions of the peace
deal, including "surrendering the speakership of the national
parliament to President Kiir’s faction."
He said the best thing for the country is to fully implement the peace
agreement by undoing the “illegal” actions recently decreed by
President Kiir, and get back to the path of peace.
New first vice president Gai, who led South Sudan government
delegation to the summit known as IGAD-Plus, said he was ready to step
down from his position and give it back to Riek Machar once he returns
to Juba. But this contradicted his earlier public comment which called
on Machar to return to Juba as normal citizen or stay in exile until
2018 elections.
IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim, said the Heads of State of
member states have directed the chiefs of staff to go to Juba and
discuss the modalities of deployment of the protection force with the
government of South Sudan.
"The government of South Sudan has accepted with no condition the
deployment of protection force," he said.
Gai replaced Machar in the wake of renewed violent fighting in the
capital Juba between 8 and 11 July, which left about 300 people killed
and 60,000 others seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
The supporters of Gai cited failure to communicate with their leader
to replace him but it remains to be seen if the seeming ambitious Gai
will relinquish the seat.
Machar in his Aljazeera TV interview last week said he had delegated
his deputy, Alfred Ladu Gore, to act on his behalf until he returned
to Juba, but Gai, who is junior as number four in the hierarchy of the
SPLM-IO leadership, grabbed the seat.
Machar’s spokesman, Dak, sees the changes as illegal and argues that
Machar remains the legitimate leader of the armed opposition
recognized by the peace agreement.
"Dr. Riek Machar remains the legitimate First Vice President of South
Sudan. Whoever sneaked in the office illegally in violation of the
August 2015 peace agreement should step down. All the SPLA-IO
ministers illegally replaced will be reinstated under their legitimate
leader," Dak said .
He also criticized President Kiir for accepting an illegal replacement
process of “self-nomination” of Gai, saying this indicated that it was
a conspiracy involving President Kiir.
South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since 2013 between the two
leaders erupted into full blown conflict. The crisis has produced one
of the world’s worst displacement situations with immense suffering
for civilians.
Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war,
conflict and instability have spread to areas which previously were
unaffected in the Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal regions
of South Sudan.
In July, deadly clashes in Wau resulted in the deaths of more than 40
people, while up to 35,000 fled their homes and sought refuge either
in churches or at a place adjacent to the United Nations Mission in
South Sudan’s branch office in the area.
(ST)
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10 August 00:01, by lino
If SPLM-IG still needs Taban in the presidency then Wani can step
down for him. Poor Wani; your seat will be given to another Nuer!!!
repondre message
10 August 05:02, by Freedom Fighter
The question is, will Riek Machar return to Juba as commander
in chief of the White Army still, or just a normal citizen.
In my view, White Army should not come back again to Juba with
Riek for their lack of basic principles of organization and military
discipline. They should be kept there in Fagak, and the UN body guards
be assigned to Riek for his protection should he return to his
position
repondre message
10 August 06:50, by choldit
Is z a clear expression of fear for SPLA-io for the lesson
they gave to SPLA-ig in J-1 and Jebel battles of juba? Are we in
process of realisation that the SPLA-ig cannot protect Salva Kiir
anymore? Wait we can use Salah Gosh, JEM and UPDF at the same time
since the Sudanese govt doesn’t worry. Wait, how fat is JCE bank
account, will it be able to pay all? Oh, we will use president kiir’s
$ laund
repondre message
10 August 01:53, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
The government must follow the terms of the agreement methodically
in order to be recognised as a system of integrity. Stop manipulating
political weaklings to score diplomatic victory over your political
rivals.
repondre message
10 August 04:25, by Force 1
The regional intervention forces need to make sure that their
first vice president Riek machar they are coming to protect is
actually out there alive and is on his route to Juba for his seat or
else; what are they coming for to protect?
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