South Sudan leaders urge Kikwete to call another meeting

LEADERS of conflicting groups in South Sudan have called on President Jakaya Kikwete to convene special meetings to finalise the draft of Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) constitution as part of the Arusha Agreement brokered by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

Former South Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar told the ‘Daily News’ that they want to renew their commitment in implementation of the Arusha Agreement, saying it should be translated into the new SPLM constitution.

“We are actually appealing to President Kikwete to facilitate the meetings of three groups to work on the constitution of SPLM. This issue is critical for the unification of the SPLM,” said the former South Sudan Vice-President, who is representing one of the conflicting groups.

Mr Machar said the three South Sudan’s conflicting groups were committed to the Arusha Agreement, saying the SPLM constitution would be the ideal vehicle to the peace agreement in South Sudan.

The Sudanese party factions have now reached progress on establishing framework for the SPLM dialogues, including shared principles, objectives and agenda for engaging in the talks.

The process was convened by President Kikwete at the request of the South Sudan movements’ leaders who wanted to bring together all SPLM fighting groups.

As a result of the South Sudanese civil war in 2013-2014, the SPLM party split and factionalised into the SPLM-Juba, led by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IO (in opposition), being helmed by former Vice President Riek Machar.

Meanwhile, as the number of CCM presidential hopefuls clocked 35, President Kikwete has reaffirmed his stance that he was not backing any CCM member in this year’s race for the State House despite a number of zealots appealing for his support.

President Kikwete, who doubles as the ruling party’s National Chairman, however, stated that he has one vote that he would use during the party’s meetings to decide the party’s presidential candidate.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications indicated that the president reiterated his stand in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday when he met with the US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ms Linda Thomas- Greenfield.

During their talks, Ms Thomas-Greenfield asked President Kikwete if he was backing one of the hopefuls. Mr Kikwete insisted that he had remained firm over his stand of remaining at the middle- of-the-road, as all hopefuls are his and come from his party.

He also noted that there was no problem for such number of hopefuls because they cannot be barred from contesting as they are entitled to the right to contest.

President Kikwete moreover noted that such scramble for the highest office in the land (within his party) was healthy and clear testimony of matured democracy and freedom within the party and his 10 years successful leadership.

The president, who is set to leave the highest office later this year, insisted that he is not taking sides in the Ikulu contest. The two leaders met when attending the 25th African Union Summit, held at Sandton Covention Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Commenting on the big number of hopefuls, Mr Kikwete said that such response was due to the size of the party in addition to being a mileage for the party to have a big base of aspirants.

It is the second time the president stated his position on the matter. A few days ago when addressing Tanzanians living in the Netherlands on the political situation and country’s preparations towards the fifth general elections under multiparty democracy, President Kikwete declared that he was not backing any CCM member in this year’s race for the State House.

Mr Kikwete also remained optimistic that CCM was going to field an appropriate presidential candidate who would successfully fly the party’s flag in the October elections high.

He described the political state in the country as promising despite cut-throat competitions that have marred his succession bid.

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