February 26th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A holdout South Sudan opposition leader said on Tuesday that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is an extensive part of the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit.
Dr. Hakim Dario, the Chairperson of the holdout opposition alliance, NADAFA, said in a statement to the Nyamilepedia that they are aware that IGAD principle to mediate between South Sudan parties is flawed and that they are now imposing a high cost for those who did not sign the agreement in September 2018 including him.
The IGAD is the regional East African body which mediated the revitalized South Sudan peace agreement signed in September last year in Addis Ababa by President Salva Kiir and prominent opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
Dario – who is also the leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) which was a member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) – withdrew from talks in Khartoum in August 2018 citing bias by the regional body.
“IGAD mediation principle is flawed, we know that. They are imposing a high cost for non-signatories, and that is the name of the game,” he said adding: “They are doing it deliberately, they are part and an extension of Juba regime.”
He accused the regional body of entertaining the ongoing destruction by the government to compel opposition groups – including his – to sign an agreement they are not ready for accusing the IGAD of going silence despite the grave atrocities being committed by what he said is a “JCE” government of President Kiir.
“IGAD are letting JCE regime to commit atrocities to coerce opposition into submission to R-ARCSS. Both IGAD and JCE regime are in cahoots as IGAD is silent about sanctioning JCE for waging war in Equatoria and causing the flight of 5000 more civilians into refuge and 8000 more displaced,” he added.
“It’s a scorch earth and deliberate policy to harm and cause maximum damage to the civilian population as punishment for presence of armed opposition groups in Yei territories,” he added.
