October 7, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — Responding to a recent statement aired by the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to South Sudan, David Shearer, the main armed opposition, SPLM/A(IO), regrets the United Nations could be relinquishing its neutral and mediatory role in search of peace, justice and accountability in the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan.
“As a mediator, the UN should have been an impartial arbiter. However, to our dismay and disappointment, the UN Special Envoy to South Sudan seems to be reading from the same script as the – well documented – genocidal regime.” Reads part of a statement extended to Nyamilepedia Press.
According to Cde. Mabior Garang de Mabior, the SPLM/A(IO) National Committee Chairman for Information and Public Relations, by issuing such a statement the United Nations is opting for a more prejudiced position in South Sudan conflict.
“In his statement, the Special Envoy declared that the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) should be formed on November 12, without delay and any outstanding issues should be discussed by the R-TGoNU.” Cde. Mabior Garang de Mabior said.
“It is lamentable that the Special Envoy of such an august body as the UN – an organization which is concerned with world peace – would take such a prejudiced position.” He continued.
From the SPLM/A(IO) point of view “the statements of Mr. David Shearer eerily echoes the belligerent words of President Salva Kiir at the recent prayers at J1- the Statehouse of the Republic of South Sudan – where he threatened to unilaterally form the government on November 12.”
According to Mabior, the South Sudanese regret that some outsiders are pushing the South Sudanese to the same path of war that devastated their country in 2016.
“The Head of UNMISS seems to prefer formation of a “unity” government over the implementation of the critical components of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS). It is absurd for an outsider to ask us to repeat the same folly we witnessed in 2016. “
The SPLM/A(IO) believes that such statements have “emboldened an already intransigent, antipeople and antipeace regime, as shown by the irresponsible statements of the Minister of Information, Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth, who stated that it would be a joke to incorporate the negotiated peace settlement into the constitution – in his own words – “the constitution at present is not a priority”.
“This is mischief, especially coming from a lawyer by training. If the negotiated peace settlement’ is not governed by any laws, then what kind of a peace are we talking about.”
This is the real joke!
The main armed oppositions declares that the Opposition will not be coerced into bad peace in false pretext that the outstanding issues shall be discussed later.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to state for the record that a coerced peace will never prevail in South Sudan and forming the R-TGoNU – under a false pretext that we shall discuss the outstanding issues as a Unity Government – is a mockery of justice.” Mabior said.
“We have tried this in 2016 and it led to the paralysis of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU). What makes the UN Special Envoy imagine that the same events shall not be repeated?” Mabior questions.
In 2016, the United Nations pushed the parties to form the government before implementing the security arrangements. Few months later that peace agreement broke down, killing tens of thousands of people and displaced over 2 millions people.
