South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called the political parties in the peace agreement to allow sustainable dialogue and partnership for the country to achieve duration peace.
In a nation televise address, Kiir said parties face obstacles and deadlock in implementing the revitalized agreement. Still, he reaffirmed and assured the citizens of his commitment to prevent war in the country.
“The full implementation of this peace agreement cannot be done without sustaining dialogue among the parties. As parties to the deal, we sometimes hit minor bumps on the road, but the agreement’s implementation is on track.
President says the revitalized agreement is considered the one way to take the country into the path of stability and pledge to implement it.
Kiir warned of political competition among the peace parties that dragged the agreement’s implementation backward and called for transparent and total commitment among the parties to ensure South Sudan attained durable peace.
He says his government is committed to fully implementing the peace agreement and urges other parties to stop circulate information that could be discussed at the level of country leadership.
President further says the delay in graduating unified forces is due to the failure of opposition groups to organize their soldiers in the military standard.
“I told my brother, Dr. Riek Machar, bringing your officers into their correct ranks. Yes, I am the President, but I cannot do this because it may cause defection in your forces and result in war,” Kiir said.
President state address came amid speculation and fear of loaming fighting among the parties in Juba following clashes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO in Upper Nile State last week.
South Sudan First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar said that soldiers were deployed on Sunday night around his residence in Juba, which created unnecessary tension and panic amongst the immediate neighbors and public. He said such action indicated poor commitment among the parties to resolve matters peacefully.
The SPLM in opposition has criticized the move and described it as “disruptive” to the peace implementation, weakening the trust, confidence, and dialogue among the parties to the agreement.
President denied security threats in Juba and told the reporters that the situation was normal, urging people to stop panicking due to the presence of the military.
“No security threat in the street of Juba. What is happening is normal things. Some criminals who can shotgun near the home of Riek Machar so that we can see Riek is one attacking people. So, the presence of Soldiers does not mean there is insecurity in Juba. It is not,” Kiir stated.
Last week, President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a Republican decree allocating four positions in the army and national polices service to SPLM-IO and one to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) which the IO rejected.