January 2nd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan government on Tuesday said it is ready to offer a position to the prominent opposition and National Salvation Front (NAS) leader, Gen. Thomas Cirilo, if he relinquish his ongoing rebellion in the Equatoria region.
Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka is also the leader of the holdout opposition alliance, South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSDNA) which is not a part of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September last year by South Sudan government and opposition groups in Addis Ababa.
Speaking during a prayer service to mark the New Year’s Day at Emmanuel Jieng Church in Juba on Tuesday, South Sudan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau, said, according to the Eye Radio, the government is ready to offer Gen. Cirilo a position with the condition that he relinquish his rebel activities.
“We really want to appeal to Gen. Thomas Cirilo who is still fighting between Yei and Juba, between Wonduruba and Katigiri, between Morobo and Yei, and other parts so that he can join the peace,” the Eye Radio quoted Mr. Dau as saying.
“If he needs a position, there are a lot of positions in the government of South Sudan,” he added.
The senior government official further appealed to the international community to rein on Cirilo so as he is convinced and join the ongoing efforts to achieve peace in the world’s youngest nation.
“We want to appeal to our international partners to prevail on Thomas Cirilo so that he can come and join peace of South Sudan,” he added.
South Sudan President early in December decided to turn down a regional request for him to meet Gen. Thomas Cirilo and Gen. Paul Malong, who is also for his part a non-signatory of the revitalized peace deal signed by Kiir and opposition groups.
