January 26th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s main rivals, President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar, has been urged to take the dispute on the number and boundaries of states seriously and come up with a bold decision to resolve the contentious issue.
The determination of the number and boundaries of states is one of provisions of the revitalized peace agreement signed by the two men in September 2018.
The parties have missed several deadlines to form a unity government because some says a transitional government cannot be formed without the pre-transitional activities – including the reunification of government and opposition troops – completed.
As another deadline looms for the unity government formation, the parties have not taken any significant step to resolve the issue. While government wants the issue resolved by the transitional government, the opposition wants the issue be resettled first to ensure a stable transition.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia on Sunday, the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), a Juba-based South Sudanese civil society group, urged Kiir and Machar to end the states impasse by taking bold decision to resolve it before the end of pre-transitional period.
“The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) a South Sudanese human rights organization based in Juba. CPA calls on President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar to take bold decision on the number of states and their internal boundaries before, forming Unity Government February 22, 2020,” the statement partly reads.
“A majority of South Sudanese citizens are eager to hear from their leaders. Ordinary citizens lost hope when David Mabuza, the Deputy President of South Africa failed to address the issue of the number of states. He came up with arbitration which will never bring everlasting peace and solution in the country,” the statement added.
The CPA’s national coordinator, Ter Manyang Gatwech, said he is deeply concerned over the slow progress on the number of states and their internal boundaries saying “Both Kiir and Machar can take the country to peak without involvement of other foreigners to decide on own fate. This implies that for a leader to succeed there is a need for serious commitments and struggle on the side of leadership to achieve the objectives and goals of democracy, rule of law and human rights in the aftermath of conflict in South Sudan.”
“The leaders of South Sudan should know that citizens are suffering a lot day and night in this country because there is no proper implementation of peace. We have refugees in neighboring countries who need to come back home to rebuild their lives if the leaders agrees. If Kiir and Machar do not make compromise, then we are afraid the Unity Government might not be formed in February 22, 2020. The leaders should associate with right people who will understand the suffering of citizens in interior and exterior.
“Today we remains with 25 days to form the unity government. No sagacity of coming together to agree on current problems facing the political leaders. They should understand when you have no people, you will rule nothing. Do not listen to your members in your political party and please listen to the voice of invisible in the country. Leadership required action and tough measure when it come to the real issues concerning the nation. When you face serious challenges then you are a real leader who could take bold decision on matters.
“However, it’s time for our leaders to listen to the voice of citizens. Leaders always should compromise, accommodate and move forward. The slow of peace implementation especially the security arrangement and the screening of unified forces is will start the training. Realize that it is really all in our mind! What goes on in your mind can really determine your actions and decides whether you will move the South Sudan forward or backward.
“CPA urged all citizens to stay positive because there is no permanent problem. Let’s remain positive to avoid negative thoughts in our minds.  Thus, leadership is everything as where there is political will, any policy can go through. Hence, the implementation of Peace Agreement where there is a political will always go through.”
