September 2, 2018 (JUBA) - The rebel National Salvation Front (NAS) of General Thomas Cirillio once again denounced the final text of the revitalized agreement for peace in South Sudan and accused the guarantors of prioritizing their own economic and security interests.
- In a previous statement, the group has already rejected the final peace document and distanced itself from its initialling by the South Sudan Opposition alliance (SSOA) of which NAS is a member. Like the People’s Democratic Movement and the SPLM-FDs, it reiterated its demand for a genuine federal system protecting the tribal border and establishing regional autonomy.
But in a second statement dated on the 1st September, General Cirillio who is currently in the United States attacked directly the guarantors and accused them of considering their own security and economic interests rather than achieving a lasting peace in South Sudan.
"The preoccupation of some of the countries undertaking the mediation is not with how best to secure just and sustainable peace in South Sudan but rather with arrangements that best protect the various and conflicting interests of some IGAD member states in South Sudan".
The Sudan and Uganda are the guarantors of the Khartoum Round of the revitalization process. Also, Khartoum has secured the resumption of oil production in South Sudan and begun pumping it for exportation through Port Sudan.
Kampala is also seen as the other beneficiary of the peace agreement because South Sudan has been the main destination of Ugandan products. The According to Uganda Export Promotion Board and Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) estimates, Uganda’s exports lose some Shs3.5 billion ($930.000.00) every day, since the eruption of the South Sudan civil war on 15 December 2013.
Also, in several articles dedicated to the armed groups in Sudan, the peace agreement bans the presence and support to the rebels who fight the Sudanese government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as in Darfur region. These groups are accused of fighting along the South Sudanese government army.
Cirillio also criticized the method adopted by the mediators in Khartoum saying the "Agreement is not an outcome of a dialogue between the parties". he added that during the negotiating on the governance agreement "the parties spoke to paper and to proposals as deem fit by the mediation"
Also, he said the mediation the "excluded meaningful participation by key stakeholders - civil society, women, youth and the international community".
The government and the Other Political Parties opposition coalition (OPP) initialled the deal on 28 August while the SPLM-IO chaired by Riek Machar and the SSOA signed it on 30 August after receiving reassurance from the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir that their concerns will be addressed by the IGAD leaders.
However, the two groups said they would not sign the final text of the revitalized agreement if the IGAD head of states didn’t address their four concerns including the number of the contested states, the quorum of the cabinet and parliament meetings, and the constitution-making process. Also, they asked that Ethiopia and Kenya join Sudan and Uganda as guarantors and deploy their forces within the UNMISS.
The SPLM-FDs signed the deal on 28 August but its leader Pagan Amum denounced the initialling of the final document by the head of their delegation Pagan Amum saying "prematurely" signed the deal.
(ST)
Newer articles:
- Report claims detainees ill-treated in South Sudan - 05/09/2018 02:58
- UN agency seeks refugees input in S. Sudan peace deal - 04/09/2018 21:43
- South Sudan can learn from Liberia’s road to peace - 03/09/2018 18:21
- South Sudan, Ethiopia to form joint border security force - 03/09/2018 02:23
- China helps South Sudan develop textbooks - 02/09/2018 20:12
Older news items
- China's engagement key to sustaining peace, stability in S. Sudan: experts - 02/09/2018 06:46
- GSDF base in S. Sudan riddled with bullets during clashes - 02/09/2018 00:38
- Xi meets South Sudanese president - 01/09/2018 09:34
- More South Sudan's rebels rejoin gov't amid wave of defections - 31/08/2018 22:46
- South Sudan's NAS refuses final peace document - 31/08/2018 18:00
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):
- Sudanese man blows up wife, son in south Russia - 11/02/2009 12:28
- Abstract On Determinants Of Uptake And Utilization Of Reproductive Health Services Among Women Of Reproductive Age In South Sudan’s Public Health Facilities - 06/10/2023 00:09
- الحركة الشعبية تؤيد فتوى علماء السودان بعدم سفر الرئيس - 26/03/2009 19:13
- South Sudanese stranded at Joda urge Sudan to open border - 03/08/2018 07:40
- South Sudan: The Conundrums of South Sudan's Peace Process - 16/09/2015 12:59
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61882 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22310 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21505 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19070 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18873 times