South Sudan rebels dismiss coup talk

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.