SPLM-IO dismisses “false claims” that Machar was reconsidering his position on gov’t formation

November 6^th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, has denied reports that its chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny was vowing to regional pressure and that he was reconsidering his position on government formation next week.

The main armed opposition leader said during a meeting in Juba last month with a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation that he will not participate in a government Kiir said he would form on November 12^th as agreed by the Parties to the revitalized peace agreement in May.

Kiir had threatened in September that he will form what would be the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) on November 12^th as agreed by the rival parties during a meeting in Addis Ababa in May.

The South Sudanese head of state said he will go ahead with the action even if that would mean the exclusion of Machar who is an important figure in the country’s politics and a key signatory to the revitalized peace agreement.

The United States however threatened that it will not recognize any government formed without Machar saying important provisions of the agreement such as the establishment of a unified army, police and national security as well as the number and boundaries of states must first be resolved.

Speaking to Nyamilepedia this evening, SPLM-IO governor of Imatong state, Nathaniel Pierino, said the reports that Machar was succumbing to regional pressures are just “false claims” and meant to “divert the attention” of the people of South Sudan from the government’s intransigence on the implementation of the provisions of the 2018 peace deal.

“No, that’s [a] mere propaganda. It is not true,” Pierino said.

Machar and Kiir are expected to meet in Kampala tomorrow under the auspices of President Yoweri Museveni and the head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Abdel Fatah al-Burhan who will accompany Machar to the Ugandan capital.

The two men will reportedly then leave for Addis Ababa for a meeting of the parties to the agreement over whether the government can be formed next week.