Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Eastern Equatoria State has urged its main peace partners, SPLM-IO, “not to run away from the peace implementation.”
The SPLM State Secretary, German Charles Ojok, urged the SPLM-IO State Chairperson and Deputy Governor, Mary Alphonse Lodira, to conduct due diligence and understand South Sudan’s Constitution, local government system and administration.
“SPLM Secretariat in Eastern Equatoria has urged its peace partner, the SPLM-IO, not to run away from the real task of implementing the agreement,” the statement from the office of the governor read.
According to Ojok, the SPLM is committed to providing maximum services to the people of South Sudan, as it did during the independence struggle, and the ruling party is willing to implement the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in letter and spirit.
The statement followed the recent accusations by SPLM-IO against the government of Eastern Equatoria State, which is viewed by the SPLM-IG as a tactic of causing panic among state citizens.
Last week, the deputy governor of Eastern Equatoria State, who is also the state chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO, Mary Alphonse Lodira, accused Governor Lobong of delaying the appointment of the nominated members of the SPLM/A-IO to the positions of Deputy Mayor of Land for Torit Municipal Council, and the Deputy Commissioner for the Investment Corporation Commission, to mention but a few.
Lobong was also accused of dividing the state into two with two mayors where one is in Kapoeta and another in Torit, and a lack of cooperation between the SPLM-IG and the SPLM-IO. Blame games
“Former politicians are being appointed as executive directors in the counties of the defunct 32 states, with full budget authority and direct accountability to the governor, in violation of the peace deal,” she said.
She went further to claim lack of transparency in the management of resources, and alleged confrontation at the SPLA-IO cantonment sites by SPLM-IG, citing a cantonment site at Lowareng.
There had been clashes in Upper Nile State and Unity State between the SPLM/A-IO and the SSPDF, which spread their wings to Juba and states such as Eastern Equatoria State, encouraging an impasse between the leading peace partners.
Forces directed
On Monday, the Chairman and Commander-in-chief of the SPLM/A-IO forces, Dr Riek Machar Teny, who is also the First Vice President, directed his forces to desist from conflict and observe the peace agreement.
“I want to take this moment to call upon all SPLM/SPLA (IO) forces to remain and observe the cessation of hostilities agreement, December 27, 2017, and permanent ceasefire as stipulated in R-ARCSS,” he said in a statement.
He reaffirmed the commitment of SPLM/A-IO to the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Machar vowed that the SPLM/A-IO would not return the country to war.
“In conclusion, I reiterate and confirm unequivocally the solemn commitment of SPLM/SPLA-IO) to the people of South Sudan, the region and the international community at large that the SPLM/A-IO will not be the ones to return the country to war. Finally, the SPLM/SPLA-IO is committed to the implementation of the Agreement, “he concluded.
Machar claimed that his residence had been surrounded and that it had spread waves of panic across the country. But in his nation’s address on Monday, President Kiir noted that the deployment of security agents on the streets and near Dr. Machar’s residence was to prevent panic and ensure that no criminal shoots a bullet so that the city would be in greater anxiety, which might lead the country to war.
Kiir said he would not tolerate seeing any step which would imperil the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. “There is no security issue in Juba streets,” President Kiir told reporters. “What is happening in Juba is a normal thing that can happen in any other country because there are criminals here in Juba who are within, and they may go and fire shots near the residence of Dr Riek Machar,” said the president.
“For example, if these people shoot guns near the house of Dr Machar, we will think that Riek is the one who has started attacking people. So, the presence of soldiers on the streets does not mean that there is insecurity in Juba.”
Last week, the SPLA-IO, accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) of attacking its cantonment sites in Upper Nile and Unity states, leading to its withdrawal from the security mechanisms meetings.
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