South Sudan: Why R-TGoNU Should Be Seen United For Peace

By Jacob J Akol*

The Revitalised- Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in South Sudan should not be seen as a competition forum between President Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny as well as amongst other Vice Presidents. They should work as a unit conveying messages of unity by appearing together regularly.

In as much as President Kiir will have delegated some of his leadership roles  to First Vice President Riek and other Vice Presidents, he still has the duty to at least show his appreciation for the good work being done by his deputies and regularly encourage them publicly. That's leadership.

Riek on the other hand should delegate some of the roles he is undertaking to the other Vice Presidents and share the limelight with them.

It is not enough to say, “we are united”. It needs to be seen, otherwise rumours will be circulating that Riek has effectively taken over the Presidency or that there is “a parallel government going on behind the R-TGoNU”.

Already, Riek has complained to IGAD about appointments made by the president against what is in the Agreement. People should not be silently lead back to war. We have seen this kind of “unity” before. We must speak up against conspiracy of silence fed on rumours. 

*Jacob J Akol is editor of Gurtong Media and Website www.gurtong.net