IGAD and US State Department join John Kerry in welcoming the “legal” appointment of Taban Deng Ghai Posted: August 27, 2016 by *PaanLuel Wël* in Junub Sudan <https://paanluelwel.com/category/junub-sudan/> 0 <https://paanluelwel.com/2016/08/27/igad-and-us-state-department-join-john-kerry-in-welcoming-the-legal-appointment-of-taban-deng-ghai/#respond>
Rate This *IGAD accepts Riek Machar’s ouster as South Sudan vice president* <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> *FRIDAY AUGUST 26 2016 <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/>, **By KEVIN J. KELLEY, New York* <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) said on Friday that it is up to the South Sudanese government to decide whether Dr Riek Machar should be reinstated as the country’s first vice president. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> That decision would be “naturally accommodated by Igad,” Sharon Kuku, a spokeswoman for the eight-nation grouping of East African states, said in an email message. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> Ms Kuku noted that Taban Deng Gai, appointed by President Salva Kiir as Dr Machar’s replacement, had pledged at Igad’s August 5 summit to abide by the South Sudan government’s decision on the first vice presidency. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> “Igad did not stop Gen Deng from attending the summit nor speaking for the South Sudan government,” Ms Kuku pointed out. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> Friday’s comment by Igad follows the group’s call on August 5 for Machar to be reinstalled as first vice president. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> His removal was not consistent with the terms of last year’s peace agreement between South Sudan’s warring parties, Igad said three weeks ago. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> In the interim, however, the United States had expressed its acceptance of Machar’s replacement by Mr Deng. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> US POSITION <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> Secretary of State John Kerry said in Nairobi on August 22 that “it’s quite clear that legally, under the agreement, there is allowance for the replacement, in a transition of personnel, and that has been effected with the appointment of a new vice president.” <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> The US position was reaffirmed on Thursday by State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> “The peace agreement contains procedures and requirements that govern transitions and changes within the transitional government,” Ms Trudeau said at a press briefing in Washington. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> “Specifically, the agreement provides the top leadership of the armed opposition the power to nominate a new first vice president if that position is vacant.” <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> A faction of the armed opposition declared last month that it had chosen Mr Deng to replace Machar, who was then in hiding inside South Sudan following bloody clashes in Juba. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> South Sudan President Salva Kiir subsequently named Mr Deng as first vice president. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> Dr Machar’s followers charged that the moves violated last year’s peace agreement and vowed to oppose Mr Deng’s appointment. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> State Department spokeswoman Trudeau on Thursday repeated US calls for an end to armed conflict in South Sudan. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> “We do expect the transitional government and all parties, including all leaders of the opposition in South Sudan, to take every step possible to avoid fighting and to reach a peaceful resolution of their differences,” she said. <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> “The way forward is not through violence or military action but through implementation of the agreement and through peaceful resolution of differences.” <http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Igad-joins-US-in-accepting-Machar-ouster/1066-3359324-mxg03bz/> -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, 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