June 07, 2015 (Nyamilepedia) — A new power struggle is brewing up in the South Sudanese capital Juba as news spreads that president Salva Kiir is preparing to hand over power to a successor within his ruling SPLM-Juba party due to bad health.
This comes after talks that Kiir has been privately confirmed as being sick, weak and not fit to continue by doctors, talks going across the political and ministerial corridors in Juba saying that Kiir might be suffering from a kidney or a liver disease, and the Dinka Council of Elders are working to find his successor.
Kiir is said to have temporarily delegated his powers to current Defense Minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk, instead of James Wani Igga, bypassing his VP.
This has sent shock waves within the ruling party leadership ranks in what is seen as a huge saga to hit the party since the violent break up of the party in December 2013, which triggered the current civil war.
It has been described by citizens and observers, particularly, as a huge embarrassment to vice president Wani Igga and a damage to his reputation. As vice president of the republic, Wani Igga is supposed to take responsibilities of state authority in case of any absence, death or unavailability of president.
He is also mandated to represent South Sudan in any regional or international meetings which requires high level representation to the level of Presidency.
Salva Kiir was allegedly pressured my leading SPLM members, hailing mostly from Bahr El Ghazal, to delegate powers to Kuol Manyang but not to Wani Igga, whom one insider says has been described by them as “having a weak personality, lacking character or clear political direction” and is seen as a “yes boy” to the president with no independent standing. Therefore, he could not be trusted when it comes to important political decisions and actions.
This all started yesterday on Saturday, 6th June, when Kiir was meant to attend the Northern Corridor meeting in Kampala, which brings together all the heads of state of the various East African countries to discuss infrastructure and security programs for the region.
President Kiir, who is said to be sick, failed to appear at the conference with his colleagues from the region, but instead was represented by Kuol Manyang, the Defense Minister, to the surprise of many including the East African heads of state who expected at least South Sudan’s Vice President to attend the important meeting if the president could not make it as the meeting was meant to be attended by heads of states and not to be represented on a ministerial level.
According to a senior Equatorian official in the SPLM party, who is familiar with the presidency and protocols, Wani Igga was not informed of the move by the president and was shocked to discover that he had been sidelined in terms of state protocols and his constitutional powers without any explanation.
The confidential source and senior Equatorian official in the SPLM party, who refused to be named as he is not allowed to speak on such matters, says Wani Igga has not taken Kiir’s decision lightly; saying Wani Igga expects a frank explanation from Pres. Kiir as to why he has been bypassed inspites of the protocols, and why a junior to him or minister has been delegated to take his place and represents the president while the vice president was available and was not engaged with any other duties.
Given that the president was also present inside, and not outside the country, the senior official who is close to the vice president said such actions could create “mistrust” between the two senior SPLM leaders.
Kiir whose health is said to be in “bad shape” according to sources within the J1, has been under heavy pressure from IGAD peace mediators and the international community to sign a peace deal, which would end the current civil war; However, such agreements are expected to give the opposition forces led by Dr Riek Machar a “lion share” in a new interim government of national unity, which would then undergo extensive reform programs including in the key areas of security, judiciary and financial/resource management sectors.
The embattled South Sudanese President had initially rejected to sign any peace agreement that would give the opposition more powers, describing it as “rewarding rebellion” but he is now said to be looking to sign a peace agreement, which according to senior officials from Bhar El Ghazal, who are dominating the presidency, is a “flexible arrangement” that would allow Dr Riek to be “appointed” as the first vice president while leaving Wani Igga to hang on to the third senior position as second vice president for the sake of peace.
The insider says for that “flexible arrangement” to happen, the Arusha agreement would now be linked to the ongoing peace process in Addis Ababa, requiring both to be implemented together if agreed by the parties.
The Arusha agreement calls for the reversal of all previous decisions taken by president Kiir to dismiss party members including those currently in the armed opposition, the SPLM-IO. This means Dr Riek Machar would then be reinstated as the first deputy chairman of the SPLM re-unified party. This arrangement would then automatically put Dr Riek above Wani Igga within the ruling party.
According to this “flexible arrangement”, Wani Igga would then go back to being the second deputy chairman and so as per the party rules, the first deputy chairman, which is Dr Riek, will automatically be considered as second most senior and would then be appointed as the First Vice President, leaving Wani Igga to hang on as the third man in the ruling party instead of his current position as the second leader within the SPLM party in Juba.
As rumors of Kiir’s ill health and power handover spreads throughout the country, like a wild fire, so is the race between senior political leaders to take his position.
The president is said to be favoring Nhial Deng Nhial, the current government lead negotiator to be his successor, but this has been fiercely resisted by veteran SPLM members from the National Liberation Council and Dinka Council of Elders, who are in favor of Koul Manyang and see Nhial Deng as having “weak personality and has been involved in corruption”.
Kuol Manyang is also believed to be the giant who boldly proposed the then weak Salva Kiir to replace Dr. John Garang after his death in 2005 at New Site when Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol were considered among the best successors of Dr. John.
According to NLC and Dinka Council of Elder, Kuol Manyang deserves recognition for his role behind Salva Kiir, which was also shown in 2013 as the crisis was boiling up in Juba.
Meanwhile Equatorians within the government are said to be backing James Wani Igga as the next successor to president Salva Kiir; however, this has been fiercely rejected by the SPLM National Liberation Council members from Bahr El Ghazal, who are said to have described Wani Igga as being a “weak character, who cannot be trusted and has no independent vision or political program.”
Another source said the current Chief of Army Gen. Paul Malong also sees himself as a another potential candidate with huge backing from Bahr El Ghazal SPLM members in Juba. However Equatorians and Nuer members of the SPLM in Juba are said to have dismissed Gen. Paul Malong as having “no qualification or political experience” to lead a political party.
Meanwhile SPLM members from Nuer, Equatoria and Shilluk are said to be opposing any attempt to try and install Kuol Manyang as successor to Kiir, describing the SPLM veteran as a “tribal oriented politician”, who will never help SPLM unity.
According to officials in Juba, James Wani Igga has resisted any attempt to have him dropped his position as the Vice president.
It’s not yet clear how the current Vice President would receive any news of handing over his position, but it’s believed it has already started on Saturday when President Kiir delegated powers to his defense minister, Kuol Manyang, instead of his Vice President, Wani Igga.
57 comments
I hope this time a civilian president from the minority to lead the transition. Handing over power to Kuol Manyang is just an invitation of more deaths, he(K Manyang) is worse than kiir.
GatNor:
What happened to your mission march to Bortown and Juba and Malakal?
What happened to your mission march lightning speed to capture Juba city?
Followers of Riek Ebola are Political disabilities because their understanding of politics is based on tribal emotions.
I just speak my mind and you are all free to read and understand that.
There was no plant mission to Bor because it was Bor youths, spla forces with their combined foreign(fighters) mercenaries that were attempting to force their way into Lou Nuer territories. As you know they were defeated and were push back and ran back to Bor and pursuing them right into Bor town where women, children and old folks were to be use as human shield was unnecessary and the therefore the march was called off due to realization of the cowardly tactical plan of the Bor youths trying to bate the MNW of Lou Nuer into fighting in the midth of civilians. The different between MNW and the coward Jaang youths is clear.
if this is true I thanks persistent Kiir mayardiit for his patriotism and national and the love of his country and people. the Wani Igga should be persistent and Kuol Manyang or pagan Agum as vice president.
This is all a lie. No such thing is discussed anywhere. What we know is that the coming of G-10 back to the government as a sign of Arusha peace deal’s implementation requires that everyone be returned to his/her previous position in the party. As such Riek will return as the first vice chairman of the SPLM and ultimately, he will be the vice president and Wani will return to Parliament in accordance with the Arusha agreement. That is all there is! No Kuol Manyang or any other replacements suggested. There was no ground for such as Kiir is strong and no health concerns with him.
Slava Kiir is avoiding going down in history as a defeated president. Juba is falling soon regardless of who is in control of the presidency. The cowboy is not sick but running away from finishing what he had started.
Yes, he is afraid to face justice and defeat by mighty forces.Coward,coward cowboy
He was given the death hat that he never realised the fire will engulf his home town soon.And his death must be felt by his gangter in juba and beyond the boundery of south sudan.
Mr GatNor you been running your mouth for so long by supporting the war while you are not on front line, please if persistent Kiir sick or not is a good discussion. he makes if is true, not because he is defeated by whom is a good time for persistent Kiir and his vice-president wani leave their posts, because they do so much for people of south Sudan, I hope we need them to a time with their families. gatnor that is different between jiengs and Nuers, we Danish people we have responsibility to this country man or woman, we all have national duty make this country good for everyone.
You are tribalistic, dinka is a symbol of hatred ,tribalism,split, destruction, and land grabbers you should keep your mouth shutup idiot.
Adut Magoes,
The right of virtue belongs to me and I can support whoever I want. Though I should make it clear to you that I actually never supported the war but the freedom fighters and those oppressed alike such that the war was imposed up on them.
As a defense mechanism I stand to support those who have decided to defend themselves and further more I acknowledge their right to do so given the magnitude of atrocities the ethnic militias and South Sudan’s so called national arm had committed and continue to commit against them. Let it be known that I did not started the stupid and unnecessary declared proxy war of Jaang against their Nuer.
I personally don’t want Kiir to unconstitutionally relinquish power without a transitional gov of national unity. I rather have him over thrown before he does that due to many very good reasons that I rather not go into details about. For him to transfer power illegally, it also means South Sudan again would have to put up with another Jaang council of criminal elders’s puppet and the usual tribal politic and manipulations.
gatnor you have the right to support what every you please with, but you don’t have the right to recived people with lies that the persistent Kiir and national army committed crime and continue committing crime against the people, secondly the jiengs council of elders or Danish council of elders are not they people who are making policy of the country there are policy makers like the council of ministers and national assembly of the country. thirdly no crime was committed in Juba by the army or any group against ethnic Nuers or anyone is also liar, all ethnicity who were living in Juba was killed in cross fires. we don’t assume that all people who died in Juba are all Nuers ethnic group is totally wrong.
Actually I can also chose to tell whoever what I want them to hear and its their job to deciper lies from the truth wirhin that particular info given. It would not be a crime since I am not under oath in any way shape or form. It would fall under ethical stature that South Sudan has no legally binding laws and by laws on to justify your claim.
this deal to remove wani from succeding kirr by jenge council of elders will excarbate into tension.
Being yes man in circle of leadership is a loyality to a superior not a betrayal
as observed by political members from Gogrial enclave. As a matter of facts wani has huge political rights to receive power from kirr.
wek A wek & makui should deny this time, earlier kirr collapsed both in khartoum & adis but latter ignored thinking that liver disease and kidney failure would leave this idiot.this fools from gogrial are taking advantage over him [kirr] when he is totally drunk.
In this state of affair these fools bring out their fake projects for signitories when this dummy illiterate is at peak of drunkeness
what does the national constitution say when the head of state is at the verge of leaving an office?
Are these jenge fools above the law?
HE wani should not ignore this rhetoric and this time a leopard has shown the true colour.
Enough is enough a junior officer can’t do
EQUATORIA NOW!!!
All people of South Sudan know about what is going to happen when Kiir leaves the office. The Dinka will never give up because all of them have confessed that they are born to rule.
To be honest this is going to be a bitter fight because James Wani’s being silent is not that he is a coward leader but it is just because he loves this beloved country that has taken too much blood of its sons and daughters fot it to be free from the Arabs.
So all those who love the rule of law have to stand up and stand by James Wani IGGA. Not only the three states of Equatoria but all people of South Sudan including Kiir’s sons and daughters because I believe they do understand. I also believe it is not Kiir’s plans to avoid his comrade WANI but it is those around him who robbed the country wealth day and night.
The problem is the Jaang kingdom’s agents managed to have some gullible politicians render their loyalty to them and their kingdom exclusively by using the strategy of shaming the very individuals should they disagree and question the intent of their superiors whom in most cases are Jaang. These politicians are quiet loyal at the expenses of their own grass root support and often betray their supporters to a point of not having to relied on their support in times of need as this. loyal to an exploiting superior comes at a hefty costs and little rewards. Wani would yet at anytime obey his superior should he be dropped [ AGAIN ] to a lower rank, he ought NOT kick off any dust to demonstrate his dissatisfaction of the decision against him and his home support base has already lost faith in him. Subsequently his usefulness to both automatically expires comically. Upper Nile are politicians are in Malakal are also put in this very predicament by non-other than the very kingdom and its strategizing agents. This is why this kingdom must be burn to the ground or South Sudan will continue to be unstable fore generations to come.
To late to react now. you should had done itlong ago.
So you have no other issue\, but to die for vice presidency? it ‘ll be seen.
Try to have a reasonable arguerment to dump you godfather after your entire region wake up.
Weapons r distributed everywhere, OMG! any save heaven for Jieng?
Jajajajajaa the Kiir (kondo) has got serious sickness and the life of citizens in South -Sudan it seem to be in good move man is going to change his color like chameleon to me i can say the blood of Nuer who were massacre raping ,and slotted like animal in forests since last year is bitter like quinine that is why is going to take Kiir in good loam soil which will be good room for him .Second to him why vice-president is already available see what is coming now to him it will let those of greater Equartorians to join freedom fighters very soon meaning the majority will come because of that statement coming from Kiir instead to delegate Wani he just give the power to Kuol Manyang until is what? so from there Wani has no base to be calls again Vice-president the another war is coming to Juba now a day yaslaamaa how this come ???where is constitutions of the republic????? how and why to sideline the Wani ????very big confusion to Juba government common we like that confusion
Your question in regard to “constitutional” no,no,no,nada,nada laws in south sudan my friend. Since independent, south sudan has been run by one tribe rules believe me on this.so called “dinka elder of council” has taken south sudanese people to unwanted journey.
The man has run away which very big miracle to heard that how to give the power or handover its position to another Like KuolManyang to me as the citizen of this Nation considered it that Kiir will not come back may be he will come back like dust on the ground from where is going to make medical treatment okay we like that let Kuol be in his position of Kiir this where things gonna be worse and worsen to South -Sudan we need the man who is not going to change his channel to fight to fight to run to run to step-down to step-down this is the person we need to fight is better to fool or marginalized one Killer one very soon freedom fighter will reach you in Juba unless world community will take of you be patience from there we are coming to see you where you are in J ONE IN ANY WHERE
Idiots cheap propaganda rebel supporters.
My advice to u all my literate South Sudanese don’t just accept just lies from rebels because your president is fine and there is no such move in anyway whatsoever.
And your vice president is never bypassed, he is in Germany for an official visit that was the reason Kuol Manyang was appointed to represent H.E the president in Uganda.
According to the so called Born -To-Loot the presidency of South Sudan must travel to another Jang. As a designed plan, the presidency should only leave the Jaang hands when and if there are no other better oftions and in order for that to happened the best alternative would be guaranteed puppet and a Nuer puppet will be the last on the list of oftions and other alternatives. It is worrisome to think that many Jaang are not ready to let go of the presidency yet even if it means the proxy war continue. My question is how long do they the Jaang plans to continue this notion that the presidency leaves Bor to Bar El Gazhal and then back to Bor or any other Jang they chose at the expenses of those who virtually called themselves South Sudanese.
Handover will come by 2019,but remember that John Garang had spoiled Jonglei State,people will not trust again any president from Bor.
Dinka don’think that your non educated kiir will successed in his barbaric idear.if he want to die,let him go very first he kill enough
Kiir is educated than Riek. I like the way he had handle the rebellion.Look at his Diabolical Hat. I remembered UMISS, why they have ran to UMISS Camps if they were free fighters.Nuer have started it and they have to answer themselves.
See these Dinkas, there is no need for parliament , if Jenge council is the one deciding.
I do not want to be rule by a tribe council.
Wani igga deserves this, he is behaving like a last season mango up there. I will not be surprised he will also accept new assignment from his new Boss.
let him(kirr) die very fast so that land for his birrial is used for maize and rice production in south sudan
logolo if persistent kiir die today nothing gonna change one of Danish people will be come the persistent and not one madi, kuku and etc be come vice-president not Riek Machar Ebola.
No No No, Kiir will not die before his crime face it on court and he will face consequence for crime he committed on December 15-20, 2013. Thought he is sick man on the bed side,he is still going to court.
if persistent Kiir going to face the court what Riek Machar, Gatdet yaka, koang Chuol and more Nuers commanders they must face the first before kiir. because Kiir is never committed crime in Juba or anywhere in south Sudan.
What do u meaning of president to go any where ?without Vice-president WHY NOT VICE-PRESIDENT to be there as well as caretaker for the Nation for which reason ?why he appointed Kuol to be in his office until what ?,what recklessness bastard statement u mean this propaganda it has no base president is going to check those alcoholic effect Kidneys together with
other organs that is dream well do u think he will come back as kiir (KONDO) loool prepare your properties before the time your father is now to run okay running is already started by your dictator-president some days later on K.Manyang will mess-up. Doma LUKE LUATE
if this report from nyamilepedia is true and south Sudan need stronger government the my second opinion is Nhial Deng Nhial should come persistent and Martin Lomoro as his vice-president, Mr kuol Manyang remain as minister of defense.
Dear all South Sudanese,
Under South Sudan constitutions, President Kiir has a full right to choose whoever he likes to any position without following their military ranks. For example, President Kiir removed his vice president Dr. Machar, Defense Minister, John Kong, and Chief of staff, James Hoth and replaced them with Wani Igga, Kuol Manyang, and Malong Awan.
The president replaced some states government governors as well and replaced them with those were junior to them. During struggle Dr. Lam Akol was senior to Wani Igga and today Dr. Lam Akol has no position in the government.
This time around, why do you guys think Wani Igga should not be replaced? Wani Igga was promoted by president Kiir, and president Kiir has a constitutional right to replace Wani Igga any time he wants.
Again, during war time for independent, Kuol Manyang was senior to John Kong, Oyai Deng Ajak, and James Hoth. However, after independent of South Sudan the about mentioned individuals all became senior to Kuol Manyang and now Kuol Manyang became senior to all of them again. If the alleged replacement of Wani Igga is true, then president Kiir has a right to do so.
Yes, As per constitution Kiir have the right to appoint and remove at will those he appointed but not those who were elected to their offices because it would also as per constitution be a violation unless there is a logical explanation which he Kiir avoid by resorting to issuing decrees.
Kiir will be re-elected by 2019.
This is your best comment ever, people should not be afraid of Kuol Manyang, he is a good person, Kuol can only let you be kill when you broke the law and I mean serious one that could pose risks to the lives of others.
Bentiu Ramaran:
your unthinkable ideology is logic at all. people never place simple by who you like. according to the constitution, nation has to go be its elected officials. your stupid president is doing bad move all the time. Warehouses position are better than south Sudan administration. If you think he is doing good, you are out of mind. If you are among those who think Kiir is right, you misleading yourself as well as Dinka Elders who are thinking very badly in the nation.
My country men pls your assumtions will not help;
let you be the people who can visualize and learn things differentilly and leave useless hatrets that will never slake from truth.
So to be truthful, now evry body already knew that Kiir is tricking his detitute regime and fear the prides of innoncens, he’s killed and need some body else to be responsible.
Second, Kiir has got no alternative left, but to sign the peace that would empowered the freedom fighters and let Dr.Machar to be PM of new federalism rather than to run from the hands of so called Dnka council of elder by not spoiling their promise and visionless to be richest tribe in S.Sudan that will not rest in the souls of matyries who sacrified themselves for determination of all NOT only Dinkas.
My country men, pls Juba is failled government and penitent regime that whirls itself in a circle and has no direction to meet her citizens and now she is killing our time and let we hurry up to say hi and meet our friend democracy now not later.
And last not least, mark my words we gonna hear soon the bullet in Juba or else let Wanni Ga be in position.
liel nuerne. before Dr Riek M.Ebola be come PM, first he wants to face the court to answer the questions of the crime he was committed since 1991in Nasir against the jiengs Lou in pagarau and jiengs Bor massacre in Bor and also the crimes he committed again against Danish people in Bor, Bailiet, akoba, and benitiu in 2013 and continue committing the crimes against humanity by his commanders in south sudanes cities, towns and villages.
Look at this coward trying to learning Thoknath already by picking up provocative phrases. funny.
come on gatnor thok Naath came from thong Jieng,you don’t remember when they equatorian called you dinka Nuer, gatnor you’re dinka or Danish after all brother
The case of Abraham & his two wives. The one is said to be hagar with the son named Ismail the first born and the other wife was Sarah with the son named Isaac, the second born son to Abraham. Ismail became the nation of Palestine & Isaac became the nation of Israel. Nuer & Jaang the same crap. Am I correct in drawing the smiliarities?
Equotorian leadesr backing Salva Kiir are idiot.. A little rebellion every now and then is good as necessary in political world as storm in the physical world….Let Foolish Wani Igga get the consequences………
Equotorian leaders backing Salva Kiir are idiot.. A little rebellion every now and then is good as necessary in political world as storm in the physical world….Let Foolish Wani Igga get the consequences………
Wooow! My God, salva kiir the first volchar of the world have now got his transport to hell, however any aterm to inhire another person rather then Dr Riek machar is redline and will bring more destruction forever in that jugle or south sudan
Nyuon Riek Machar Ebola never and never be persistent of south Sudan on our watch unless no one Danish alive
the dinka council of elders is not our law makers to decide the affairs of the nation but to decide what concerns dinka communities only. the affairs of nation should be decided by our parliamentarians.
For your info there is no parlimanitarians exists in South Sudan government
This is rubbish and sham news. However, if killer Kiir relinquishes power, than a Dinka not mr oyeee Baba mr. Wani Igga will take over the presidency seat.
This article has no name post by author which mean this is just lies and rubbish one.
My question to those commentators is that, why are you wasting your time for what reason?
Nuer tribalism in South Sudan is a national crisis which needs to be adequately addressed. Kiir is there to stay. He’s going no where. All slave – hearted people like Nuer who often cause destruction in their land and run to foreign countries will all be buried in foreign lands. Nuer do not co – exist with others. You can’t find other ethnicities in their towns and villages, and yet they are shamelessly demanding the highest office of the land ‘ presidency ‘ . What a dumb tribe in South Sudan!!! I would kill myself if i were Nuer.
Kuol Manyang is more tribal than Kiir….Dinka Bor are the most tribalistic section among the Dinka..
The truth must be told:
Kiir’s sickness is not neither Kidney nor Liver but HIV/AIDS.
Instead the one with Kidney problem is Gen. Paul Malong
The latest ARVs drugs supplied from South Africa are not responding due to too much drinking of alcohol.
My worry is now those female ministers who buy positions with their bodies yet they are spreading the HIV virus to their husbands, concubines, bodyguards, drivers and etc.
Everybody can even see Kiir’s leaps with wounds and turning red.
RIP Salva Kirr in advance
Who care if President Kiir dies? There are millions of Dinka on the line, lead by “Red Machine” the Great Man, The Patriot guy called Kuol Manyang, follow by an other “Red Machine” Paul Malong Awan. Our aim is to denied Dr. Ebola (Riek Machar) to sit on the thorn of SS Gov’t, ever. We Dinka according to our blood and an uncountable bodies enrichment of SS soil, will never allow Dr. Ebola to lead and sit on soil enriched by DInka Bodies and blood. Dr.Ebola have right to killed Dinka as many time as he want, but he will never fart on the thorn of SS people.
YeiTop
We Dinka will endorse patriot Nuer persons like James Hoth and etc who offered his blood, physically, and mentally to protect our SS people existence from devil Arab who Slave us for centuries. So People like you (YeiTop) will happy her/his ASS off when you heard the faulted rumors, but nothing will change as long as Dr. Ebola still alive, any Dinka will face him head on.
Evening every body
Let kiir go peacefully to hell.
Simply to know who are the most serious in the hell to receive kiir and put him in jell
before court?
Iam very happy because dinka knows very well that Nuer are very strong and they are the father of South Sudan because this conflict engage Salva kiir to run up and down go to Adis because of Nuer. despite of being a president he is running to meet Dr. Riek in Adis
Pls!, bros endearmement and sister, backing without knowin’ nothin’ is not the sln to what ur hearts wants. Being logic is one of the most frank then articulated lunantic words to the public. Try to stop spreadin’ the wrong messages to they entire civilian of South Sudan.