Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, 2012 Heglig war. Photo Reuters.
Janaury 21, 2014 [Jonglei] – Rebel leader, Dr Riek Machar in an exclusive interview with The Upper Nile Times insisted that he and his group will continue to fight on until the government led by President Salva Kiir Mayardiit is no more.
In undisclosed location in South Sudan, the former Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan said that the rebellion was forced on him and his group and that it will end until Salva Kiir is ousted from power.
“Me and my detained group were not willing to stage any rebellion. but because of Kiir’s incompetence to lead and provide a good ground for political debate and reforms in the country, we are made who we become to be now. There will be an end to this problem when Kir leaves the presidency.” Riek said.
Machar categorically denied the recent statements by government of capturing Bor Town and Malakal saying its a mere propaganda by a desperate government that wants to have leverages in the negotiation table.
“We withdrew from Bor last friday tactically to see how many the Ugandan forces escorted by SPLA armies loyal to Kiir were and how we can attack them strategically without losing lives from our side. We have defeated them on Sunday and they suffered lots of lives. In Malakal, there was only a small fight at the airport against Ugandan forces whom were air dropped to fight us. we repulsed them back off and right now we are in the control of the town. We are aiming to go to Renk as one battalion of SPLA loyal to Kiir there is refusing to surrender to our forces.”- Dr Riek added.
Rebel leader Riek also said that his forces are marching to Juba to bring Salva Kiir’s regime ‘to an end.’
Originally posted by The Upper Nile Time on January 22, 2014.
