Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Vice President and Chair of the Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi has said the formation of the unified command and subsequent appointments of top cream security officials has brought peace to South Sudan.
Addressing a congregation of thousands of Muslim faithful on Monday during the Eid al Fitr prayers in the capital, Juba, Abdelbagi said the government had made a commendable step in implementing the peace agreement last month.
“The government is implementing the agreement, especially the unification of forces under one commander in chief of all the organised forces, President Salva Kiir. And we want to inform you that since the implementation of the joint command structure has been done, there is peace in the country,” the VP stated.
He called on the neighbouring countries to support the coalition government for sustainable peace in the country.
South Sudan has been battling with the implementation of the outstanding key provisions of the 2018 revitalised peace deal since the formation of the revitalised government.
However, last month the parties made a breakthrough in the unified army command structure but it is yet to translate the deal into practice.
The security arrangement is critical to the overall peace deal and has been hindered by logistical and financial constraints as well as an arms embargo among complex factors, according to the government.
“We also would like to call on the neighbouring countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda as well as Muslims to support the government so that we achieve sustainable peace in South Sudan.”
“All of us should support this government with whatever we have and God will bless you all,” Abdelbagi said.
Encourages Muslims
He urged all Muslims to exercise their faith freely and that the South Sudan government will provide full support and protection in the next feast to celebrate even on the streets without fear.
“I want to assure the Muslims that in the next Ramadan, let them come out of their homes and celebrate on the streets without fear. Your government will accord you all the support and protection,” he told the congregation.
The feast marked the first in three years of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in South Sudan, attended by the national and state government dignitaries and Muslim leaders in the country.
South Sudan joined the rest of the Muslims around the world in celebrating the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan or the festival of breaking the fast that starts with the first detection of the moon in different countries.
This year’s celebrations begin with a special early morning prayer in the open-air spaces at Medan Zahara at Konyokony and later families and friends meet for feasts and festivals.
Blame games
Prior to the formation of the unified command, the SPLM/A-IO suspended its participation in the peace monitoring bodies such as RJMEC and CTSAM-VM citing unwarranted attacks on its troops in Upper Nile and Unity states. This move triggered anxiety in the country, with security being beefed up in Juba. The First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar rescinded the decision and met President Kiir in another consultative meeting that yielded the appointments for the unified command.
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