April 7th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai is unlikely to resign from the position almost two years after saying he will vacate should Machar return to the nation’s capital.
In July 2016, the First Vice President said he was filling a “vacuum” and he was willing to resign as the country’s First Vice president after President Salva Kiir Mayardiit appointed him after dismissing Riek Machar Teny, his predecessor, following days of skirmishes in Juba.
Efforts to try to revitalize a 2015 peace deal are expected to resume in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa later this month with the regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) giving the warring parties four days to produce peace deal.
Nyamilepedia tried to reach a number of senior aides of the First Vice President on whether he is ready to give the position away should the IGAD decide to return Machar to the previous position with the current or another Transitional government of National Unity (TGoNU).
Deng Gai Gatluak, the SPLM-IO (FVP Taban Deng’s faction) Youth League Chairman, said he won’t be in a position to answer the question when asked whether the FVP is willing to give away power should the IGAD decide to return Machar to the TGoNU. As well, Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth refused to reply to a email by the Nyamilepedia.
In 2016, Taban Deng told journalist that he will vacate if Machar return to Juba but days later, he urges Machar to stay away from politic and requested the region to isolate him. In 2017, he wrote a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) requesting the world body to isolate Machar saying the later “is using the blood of Nuer community to attain power,” something he said should not be “tolerated anymore” by the regional and the international community.
1 comment
I am not sure there will be a third reinstatement for first vice president why because there is no any country have done that. Second, the former vice president Dr. Riek Machar and the current president Salve Kiir both leaders will never cooperate to do good things in the country. Thirdly, the former vice president Dr. Machar if released then, he has to avoid rebels and the conflicts if he wanted to contested on election process and he must be advice to have a platform rather than rebellion Idea. Forth, the Jiengs council of Elders are pressured president to step down or chose Taban Deng Gai or another good guy who will united all South Sudanese citizens without using racial tribalism. We will sees how things will moved in short time.