January 30th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit was wrong when he issued a presidential order granting amnesty to opposition leaders who are not signatories to the revitalized peace agreement, ex-SPLM SG Pa’gan Amum said.
Kiir on Tuesday issued a presidential amnesty to leaders of opposition groups who are not signatories to the revitalized peace agreement.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia on Wednesday, Pa’gan Amum who is also the leader of the Real-SPLM and a member of the holdout opposition alliance SSOMA, said there was no need for Kiir to grant amnesty.
“I do not see any need for Kiir to issue such a decree,” Amum said from the US.
Amum urged Kiir to stop blocking the establishment of the hybrid court provided for in the revitalized peace agreement in which perpetrators of crimes against humanity are tried.
“What he should do first is for him to stop blocking the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and to declare his readiness to cooperate with the AU and that for him to answer for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed under his leadership and command,” he said.
“With all that Kiir has committed in South Sudan does he have any legitimacy or moral authority to give amnesty to any South Sudanese? But what did SSOMA do in the first place for Kiir to grant them amnesty?” the opposition leader asked.
Amum further denied reports that leaders of SSOMA rejected to return to Rome where they met government delegation in order to protest continued government attack on opposition bases in some parts of the country.
Amum however said they wrote to the Sant Egidio which is mediating between the parties about the government continuation of offensives its offensives against opposition groups.
“SSOMA accepted the invitation by St. Egidio to attend the upcoming meeting and its delegates are ready to travel. But SSOMA also brought to the attention of St. Egidio the violation of the Cessation of Hostilities by the Juba regime forces, actions that put in question the seriousness and commitment of the Kiir regime to end this senseless war and negotiate a just and comprehensive peace,” he said.
