South Sudan's Kiir applying divisive policies: Amum

Pagan Amum (Getty)

March 17, 2021 (NAIROBI) – The former Secretary General of South Sudan ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum has accused president Salva Kiir dividing citizens.

He made the remarks while addressing members of South Sudan United Front (SSUF) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Tuesday.

“[Salva] Kiir is applying policies that are dividing our people. We apply policies that unite our people. We must unite. All of us must be united and we must build this country for us all,” said Amum.

The ex-SPLM official, now leader of Real-SPLM, reiterated his position on why he rejected the opposition coalition's (SSOMA) decision to suspend SSUF, saying disagreements can be resolved.

In September last year, the opposition alliance suspended the General Paul Malong Awan-led SSUF ahead of resumption of peace talks mediated by the Sant'Egidio community in Rome, Italy.

The leadership of the opposition group had then accused Malong of allegedly establishing contacts with President Kiir while negotiating his possible return to the South Sudan capital, Juba.

The alliance consists of the Real Sudan People's Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front (SSUF) and the United Democratic Revolutionary Movement/Army (UNDRM/A), National Democratic Movement-PF (NDM-PF), and Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC).

(ST)