June 20th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s SPLM-IO governor of Bieh State said he is happy and thankful to the regional and international community over the release of his Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny who arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning.
In a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia, the governor said he thank the region and the international community for finally allowing Machar to go free after nearly two years in detention.
“On behalf of Bieh State citizens, at home and diaspora, the state leadership and on my own behalf, I am sending this petition expressing my gratitude and that of my people to the international community and the region for allowing Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon (Ph.D), the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A-IO, to work to freedom after two years in political detention in South Africa,” he said in the statement extended to the Nyamilepedia.
The statement, signed by the opposition governor himself, Brig. Gen. Koang Rambang Chuol also congratulated the IGAD Chairman and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
“The SPLM/A-IO in Bieh State congratulates the IGAD Chairman Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali for his courageous move towards attaining a peaceful solution to the conflict in South Sudan. Although face-to-face encounter between chairman Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir is not the end of the conflict, it is a positive step toward reaching a solution to the conflict ion South Sudan,” the statement further partly read.
The statement further added that the release of the SPLM-IO leader is a victory to peace pointing out that the government of the opposition state is still committed to the cessation of hostility agreement signed in December 2017.
“The return of Dr. Machar and his direct participation is a victory to all peace-loving citizens of South Sudan as well as to all peace-loving nations across the globe. The people of Bieh State and the leadership remain committed to observing the cessation of hostility agreement as directed by Dr. Machar, the Chairman and Commander –in-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO,” the statement further said.
