Sept 4, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — The former vice president, and the current chairman and commander in cheif of SPLM/SPLA[in opposition], Dr. Riek Machar Teny, arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning.
Machar, accompanied by Mama Teny, Hatim Cuai, the chief protocol and other members of delegation, left Addis Ababa at 9Am on Thursday.
According to reliable sources, the delegation re-visited the South Africa state on a private mission. Reports from Pretoria indicates that the mission is scheduled to last for two weeks.
Machar has visited the country, on IGAD’s mandates in July to brief the South African government, a member of IGAD-led peace mediation, on the the SPLM/SPLA’s position to end the conflict.
According to Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, the chairman will use the opportunity to mobilizes for more political support from the South African government as peace talks flatter in Addis Ababa.
“Yes, he left Addis Ababa and arrived in Pretoria on Thursday. As you know IGAD has adjourned the peace talks till mid-September. Dr Machar will continue to mobilize for more support to the peace process so that a meaningful peace agreement is reached soon,” Dak said.
Machar has led delegations to Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya to present the opposition’s side of argument and future plans on peace talks.
The talks were further adjourned to mid September following unsuccessful attempts to form a transitional Government of National Unity in August.
Machar has objected IGAD’s plans to maintain president Salva Kiir as the head of state and government during the transitional period.
The protocol, according to the SPLM leaders and other groups in the multi-stakeholders negotiation, was developed outside the agreed principles and must not be imposed on the South Sudanese people.
According to Anjelina Teny, IGAD wants to control South Sudan’s economic and security sectors.
“For instance, IGAD had talked of its control over economic and security committees without any security arrangements,” she said
Teny and other senior members of the oppositions have decried IGAD arrangements, saying that the security of the proposed Prime Minister and the reconciliation of the South Sudanese people can’t be guaranteed under Salva Kiir
“For instance, if there is no security arrangement, who will protect the SPLA-IO representative in the position of prime minister in Juba?” she asked.
“The incumbent president is not the right person to reunite the people of South Sudan in the coming phase.” Teny continued.
The oppositions, however, reiterate their willingness to participate in the next round of roundtable mulit-stakeholders mediation. The peace talks are scheduled to resume on 14th of this month.
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