South Sudan president Salva Kiir (L) and rebel leader Riek Machar exchange documents at a past meeting. FILE PHOTO
Kampala- South Sudan armed Opposition has dismissed claims by the splinter group that there is a leadership crisis within Dr Riek Machar- led rebel group.
Mr James Gatdet Dak, the spokesperson of the rebel leader, told Daily Monitor yesterday that the leadership of the SPLA/M in Opposition was still intact.
“These are just two generals who were relieved of their duties because they don’t want negotiations [with government]. There is nothing like a coup attempt like some circles have said. The leadership of the Movement is still intact,” Mr Gatdet said.
The splinter group led by Gen Peter Gadet, who was general chief of staff for operations and Gen Gatoath Gatkuoth, another top commander, issued a statement on Tuesday, saying they had lost confidence in Dr Machar.
The split comes after regional leaders under Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) met in Entebbe on Monday and insisted the warring parties in South Sudan must sign the peace deal on Monday August 17.
Without saying what the option would be if the agreement is not signed, the State Minister for International Relations, Mr Henry Okello Oryem, yesterday said: “No party will have the capacity to block the signing of the power sharing agreement. They will sign the deal.”
The Igad meeting was attended by Presidents Museveni, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn and Sudanese Foreign Affairs minister Ibrahim Ghandour.
The leaders will meet again in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, next week to witness the signing of the proposed peace agreement.
Mr Salvar Kiir’s government has instead said it would unveil its own peace plan after refusing to sign Igad peace plan to end the country’s ongoing conflict that has so far left at least 5,000 dead and displaced another two million people.
Mr Dak told Daily Monitor on Tuesday that they also want Igad to make amendments to the proposed peace deal before they sign. “We have accepted the Igad-plus peace proposal with amendments. We have suggested some amendments to be incorporated into the Igad document,” he said.
“Otherwise; we are ready to sign the peace agreement by the August 17 deadline. We want to end the suffering of our people,” he said.
Newer articles:
- South Sudan's rivals, Kiir and Machar profiles - 14/08/2015 10:47
- South Sudan 'has lifted aid blockade' - 14/08/2015 07:04
- South Sudan Rebel Leader Warns of Peace Talks Failure - 13/08/2015 23:53
- IGAD: No Extra Time for Last-Chance South Sudan Peace Talks - 13/08/2015 20:10
- South Sudan: UN health agency ramps up efforts to tackle cholera outbreak - 13/08/2015 13:35
Older news items
- South Sudan hit hard by US dollar rise - 13/08/2015 07:36
- South Sudan war: a long list of broken deals - 13/08/2015 05:49
- Uganda, South Sudan to demarcate borderline - 12/08/2015 22:16
- Obama’s feel-good approach to South Sudan, like Iran, is flawed - 12/08/2015 22:01
- South Sudan rebel general rejects interim government with Kiir, Machar - 12/08/2015 13:28
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: A man-made catastrophe - 26/05/2015 09:48
- Uganda, Tanzania SGR line clear as Kenya derailed - 16/01/2023 00:46
- South Sudan’s golden honey and Nilotica shea butter ready for market - 20/10/2023 06:14
- South Sudanese reporter kidnapped, tortured two weeks after release - 10/03/2016 14:13
- Indian troops return after peacekeeping mission in South Sudan - 27/02/2018 03:12
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61549 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22304 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21490 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19052 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18779 times