Africa-Press – South-Sudan. First Vice President Riek Machar has termed the appointment of Chol Thon to the defence ministry as ‘disrespectful’ and a big blow to the implementation of peace process in South Sudan.
President Salva Kiir on Wednesday replaced Angelina Teny, who was fired on March 3, with Thon, a member of the ruling party.
The defence portfolio was originally under SPLM-IO, but it was swapped by the president, with that of the interior, in a presidential decree on March 3.
Machar, the leader of the SPLM-IO and a partner in the peace agreement, frowned at the decision, saying that the SPLM-IO was never consulted.
“The appointment of Hon. Chol Thon as Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is unilateral and a blatant new violation of R-ARCSS,’ added Puok.
On Wednesday, Kiir appointed Thon, who was deputizing Angelina, for the seat.
The reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJEMC), during its monthly plenary meeting, said the decision was taken after a thorough consultation.
“As you are all aware, the SPLM/A-IO protested the decision, following which I engaged the concerned parties and encouraged them to amicably resolve this matter in the spirit of collegiality, consultations, and consensus,” said RJMEC interim chairman Charles Gituai.
Gituai added: “I also briefed the Heads of State of IGAD on this development and appealed to them to assist the two parties to resolve this issue. There has since been internal mediation between the parties to find a suitable compromise on this matter.
On 29th March H. E President Salva Kiir appointed General Chol Thon Balok as the new minister of defence and veteran affairs.”
But SPLM-IO said the move was ‘disrespectful” and against the spirit of the agreement.
“No breakthrough was reached at all meetings between President Salva Kiir and FVP leader Dr. Riek Machar in order to overcome the current deadlock,” Puok Baluang, Machar’s acting press secretary, said.
Machar had tabled demands for Angelina to be reinstated to her position and for the defense docket to be handed back to SPLM-IO.
Angelina served as the Government of national unity’s state minister for mining and energy from 2005 to 2010.
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