June 1st 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the SPLM-IO, led by the country’s First Vice-President designate – Dr. Riek Machar Teny – said on Saturday that it is for peace and not for the return to the ongoing civil war.
A senior opposition official allied to Machar told the Nyamilepedia in an exclusive interview this afternoon that his group is not for the return to war unless it has been forced to do so.
“What I am observing, South Sudanese are desperate for peace, the SPLM-IO is for peace and not for return to War, unless imposed on it as usual,” Duer Tut Duer, former SPLM-IO governor of Sobat state told the Nyamilepedia this afternoon.
“Any step that leads to sustain the R-ARCSS shall always be supported by the people of South Sudan and by the leaders who fight for the welfare of South Sudanese people,” Duer added.
He was responding to a question by the Nyamilepedia inquiring what would be the main armed opposition group’s plan B in case the parties failed to implement Pre-transitional activities by the extended six-month period ending on November 12th.
Although it is possible for the activities to be completed within the six-month time, Duer said he doubts that possibility given comments by President Salva Kiir who said last month that the parties needs twelve months rather than six months to prepare for unity government.
“Meeting the dateline after the extension of the Pre-transitional period by six (6) months, is possible, but I am doubting that possibility because….after the parties agreed on six months extension, president Salva Kiir said six months are not enough to fulfill the pre-transitional activities, he is for twelve (12) months,” Duer further said.
“Now which one is going to work: the agreed-six months, or the twelve months of President Salva?” Asked adding: “let us not forget always Agreement signed in Addis Ababa or Khartoum has been one thing, but it’s implementation in Juba has always been another thing.”
