October 24th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The decision by opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny to reject unity government formation in November has been welcomed by opposition supporters and state governor.
On Sunday, Machar along with NDM leader Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin rejected a call by a UN delegation to form the long-awaited unity government in November as agreed in May.
Machar argued that outstanding issues provided for in the revitalized peace agreement must first be settled to ensure a stable government.
In different statements on Thursday, SPLM-IO members and supports as well as state governor welcomed the decision by Machar to call for further delay to the government formation.
“The government and the people of Bieh State at the end of the 2nd “County Commissioners'” Fonum held in Lankien from October 16 – 21, 2019, have unanimously congratulated and expressed full appreciation and support to the Chairman and Commander – In – Chief of SPLM / A IO Dr . Riek Machar Teny – Dhurgon on his stance of unshakable position that we will not be part of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity ( RTGoNU ) if the outstanding issues, especially the number of states, state boundaries, security arrangement and transitional constitution are not resolved,” SPLM-IO Governor of Bieh state General Simon Both Duol said in a statement exended to Nyamilepedia.
“There is no short cut to peace , and bad peace is not good for the citizens,” the statement added.
Another statement by the SPLM-IO chapter in Uganda also welcomed the decision by Machar to reject the unity government formation.
“First and foremost, we strongly endorse the bold decision taken by our chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, to withhold the participation of the SPLM-IO in the upcoming formation of the R-TGoNU on November 12, unless the outstanding issues are resolved,” the statement said.
“We understand that our chairman took that line of action not just in the interest of the SPLM-IO as a movement but, more importantly, in the interest of preserving the relative peace that has so far prevailed since the signing of the R-ARCSS on September 12, last year which was followed by the longest holding ceasefire since the war first broke out in December, 2013,” the statement added.
“In that respect, the SPLM-IO still reiterates its full commitment to peace and does not wish for a return to another round of senseless and yet costly war.
“As our Chairman candidly pointed out, the situation is indeed still very much volatile, especially given the fact that the irreducible minimums of the pretransitional arrangements that would then become the cornerstone for reconstituting the R-TGoNU, remain unfulfilled even as the extended deadline of November 12, looms.
“As much as the agreement is evidently teetering, the SPLM-IO leadership still remains optimistic that all is not yet lost as long as president Salva Kiir decides at this eleventh hour to fulfill his part of the bargain and do the needful, as of the imperative pre-transitional arrangements that should precede the formation of the unity government.”
