Other Political Parties (OPP) agree to share parliamentary seats

(Photo: Kornelio Kon)

Leaders of the Other Political Parties (OPP), a signatory to the peace agreement, after a meeting in Juba, agreed to equally distribute 30 legislative seats granted by the 2018 deal, in a bid to resolve differences over earlier appointments.

On Monday, members of the national parliament and the Council of States were sworn in without candidates from the OPP, after President Salva Kiir nullified the appointment of the disputed candidates.

The coalition leaders disputed the appointments after they accused the national Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Peter Mayen Majongdit, also a leader in the coalition, of unilaterally drafting a list of candidates without consultation and presenting it to the president for appointment.

Kornelio Kon Ngu, the leader of the National Alliance of Political Parties and a leading member of the OPP told Radio Tamazuj that the leaders had resolved to share the parliamentary seats in the presence of Presidential Adviser for peace Tut Gatluak Manime.

"Peter Mayen boycotted the meeting and insisted that the previous list should not be relinquished. But we divided the seats among the parties with a share of 10 seats for the three parties within the umbrella of parties," he said.

He added, "We decided that the previous list would be withdrawn, so that Majongdit would submit 10 names, and that the other parliamentarians would be appointed. So the appointment of the 30 members to the Council of States and the parliament will take place at any time."

Kon further said other OPP leaders have called for the withdrawal of the ministerial portfolio from Majongdit since last February but this has not happened.

“His actions are not worthy of political parties and we pushed for another candidate, but the President of the Republic asked us to wait until the process is completed, the peaceful formation of parliament," he noted.

In response, Majongdit Wednesday described the calls for his removal as minister of humanitarian affairs as against the peace and that those spearheading the move did not participate in the peace negotiations.

"The speech was made by some members of the alliance of Other Political Parties, parties that did not participate in the peace negotiations and did not understand the agreement. I call on all politicians from all parties to stop political propaganda as this does not help South Sudan."