South Sudan Accuses Opposition Leader of Presidential Ambition
September 6, 2014 (JUBA) -The South Sudanese government has claimed that the
opposition leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement for Democratic
Change (SPLM-DC) - the second largest political party in the country - is
harbouring ambitions to be president of the proposed interim government.
The allegations were made after Lam Akol reportedly questioned the
authenticity of a regional proposal to form the basis of peace negotiations
between the country's warring parties, which are currently being mediated by
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the Ethiopian
capital, Addis Ababa.
"Lam Akol has every right to say that we (the government) are not serious
[about the agreement] because he wanted to be the transitional president. So
he is justified because we did not allow him to achieve his objective,"
South Sudan's information minister, Micheal Makuei Lueth, said on Friday.
"The document which we signed, we presumed it was the document which the
systematic committee prepared and gave to IGAD, so when it was brought to
the leaders of IGAD, we signed because we want peace by all means. We did
not go to Addis in search for [government] positions, we went there in
search for peace and any document that we believe will contribute in
bringing peace, we will sign," he added.
Lueth was reacting to comments last week by Akol in which he said he had no
knowledge of the framework agreement.
"The text that the IGAD and president [Salva] Kiir signed didn't come from
us. It wasn't developed by us. Nobody knows where it was brought from," Akol
told reporters after returning from talks between the rival parties and
other stakeholders in Addis Ababa.
However, Lueth hit back at the claims, saying Akol denied any knowledge
because he thought he would be the head of the transitional government.
IGAD has been attempting to broker a political settlement to the South Sudan
crisis, which erupted in mid-December last year, pitting government troops
against rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar.
However, the document has also been strongly criticised by lead rebel
negotiator Taban Deng Gai, accusing IGAD mediators of bias and describing
the protocol of agreed principles as favouring the government.
On Monday, Machar, who was attending the 27th extraordinary session of the
IGAD leaders' summit devoted to discussing the crisis, declined to sign the
document in its entirety, instead reaffirming his commitment to a January
cessation of hostilities agreement.
Observers and his supporters say Machar refused to sign the complete
document, which was signed by IGAD leaders, including president Kiir, as
some clauses exclude his role in the transitional administration and bar him
from aspiring for any public office in future national elections at the
conclusion of the transitional period.
MACHAR UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT PM ROLE
The document states that the head of state and government, being also the
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, will be the elected incumbent
president, to be deputised by the vice-president.
According to the same protocol, "The prime minister shall be nominated by
the SPLM/A in Opposition and shall be acceptable to the president," although
the prime minister will not be eligible for elections after the 30-month
period expires.
Observers say this implies that Machar is likely to emerge as the country's
next and first ever prime minister should he be nominated by the rebel
faction, forcing president Kiir to swallow his previous rejection to the
creation of a prime ministerial position in his government.
However, analysts have observed that, if nominated, Machar would not be
willing take up the position, given that it limits his ambition to
participate in the next elections.
Meanwhile, Akol earlier pointed out restoring peace to the fragile nation
depended on the commitment of two warring parties.
The opposition leader branded the government delegation as being "abusive"
and showing disrespect to the mediation process.
"The government delegation didn't do well. They need to change if they are
to bring peace. They will have to work hard," he told journalists.
"As a negotiator you don't have to be abusive. You need not to quarrel, but
be persuasive because you are up for a bargain," Akol added.
Although consensus among all stakeholders on issues of governance may be
difficult to achieve, he said all parties must concede that peace is a
fundamental issue.
"As we know peace is a central issue to all; the political parties, rebels
and government too. And no one party should have its self interest supersede
the national interest if we really need peace," the opposition leader said.
When asked to respond to accusations that he had held secret talks with
Machar, Akol explained that his reason for going to Addis Abba was to talk
to anyone involved in restoring peace in South Sudan, maintaining there was
nothing particularly secretive about the talks.
"We were there to talk. As political parties we had to talk to all other
parties. This is important because you will know their point of view and if
there are different viewpoints that is when we have to make them understand
to reach the compromise in order to have peace," Akol said.