July 9th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the country’s former First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, has denied that a consensus has been made between them and the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit in Uganda last Saturday.
The denial was made in a statement issued on Monday by the SPLM-IO Chairman of National Committee for Information and Public Relations, Mr. Mabior Garang d’Mabior, who signed the statement.
“The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to inform our members and the people of South Sudan at large, that no agreement has been reached in Entebbe,” the statement said.
The group said in the statement that there were no any official document presented to their Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, but said only there was a verbal discussion which could not be translated into a deal.
“The proposal presented by President Yoweri Museveni was discussed verbally, in a cordial environment, but there was no official document presented to the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), Dr. Riek Machar Teny-dhuorangun, therefore, the proposal is not official,” Garang said in the statement.
The SPLM-IO said in the statement that it has rejected the proposal which do not address the radical reforms that are desperately needed in the young African country saying the proposal focused on accommodating officials at the expend of the South Sudan citizens.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) rejected the proposal as it only focuses on accommodation of politicians and ignores the radical reforms needed in order to effect fundamental change in our country. The SPLM/SPLA (IO) is not waging a struggle for the position of First Vice President, we are waging a protracted struggle for the future of our country,” the statement said.
The group said they are fully committed to the IGAD peace process and shall continue negotiating in good faith to achieve a just and honourable peace for the people reiterating its right to the natural right of self-defence.
