Kiir and Machar on BBC HardTalk, Who Control The Forces?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soHIqknAIDc

May 19, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — Although Salva Kiir believes that he is the “legitimate” president and “must always be the leader of that country” he admits that he does not command the army or activities related to the army at some points. Kiir blames the former vice president Riek Machar and former governor of Unity state Taban Deng Gai for inviting the darfur rebels and the Ugandan army.

Kiir believes that he had urged the forces, which he finances, “to abide by the ceasefire”; however, when asked to elaborate whether he controls and commands the Justice and Equality Movement(JEM) and the Ugandan People Defence Force (UPDF), Salva Kiir went ahead to accuse his main rivals Machar and Taban.

“JEM was brought to South Sudan by Taban Deng Gai when he was the governor in Unity State”. said the president.

Salva Kiir unconstitutionally sacked governor Taban in 2013 for leaning towards Machar, however, he failed short to point out any present of JEM in the country. Kiir did not elaborate whether the JEM mercenaries continued to occupy the country after Governor Taban left the office or not.

Contrary, the government of Sudan has severally accused the South Sudan government for supporting the rebels. JEM, on the other hand, differs with the two governments claiming that their forces are protecting the trading routs to Unity state, where their traders conduct their businesses.

Salva Kiir, in a contradictory statement, blames Dr. Riek Machar for the present of UPDF in the country.

“On the case of UPDF, they came here shortly after the war broke out on Decembet 15. They were also here since 2006. They were brought in by Riek Machar”  Kiir claims.

This year the government of South Sudan, through the Minister of Defence, Kuol Manyang, admits that the government finances the UPDF activities in South Sudan, although millions of South Sudanese are starving to death.

The two governments believes that they signed a military cooperation in January 2013. But so far, no evidence have been presented to support the claims.

In other reports, Salva Kiir has distanced himself with the atrocities committed by his bodyguards and his militia, saying that “they are not supporting him” but destroying his image. He pledges that they will be brought to book.

Machar believes that Salva Kiir is not in control of the foreign forces. He has constantly oppose the present of the Ugandan forces in the country calling it an “invasion”, and blaming Salva Kiir for inviting the forces. However, Machar has lately changed his mind to believe that Kiir does not have control over the UPDF and JEM.

“Is Salva Kiir the commander in chief of the Ugandan People Defence Forces? Is he? Has he withdrawn them because Museveni is not accepting the cessation of hostilities” Machar asked.

Machar believes that he is in full control of forces fighting under him since the forces were organized. He attempts to clarify that the resistance was not initially organized and therefore the forces he leads came under his command for fighting the same cause.

Machar reiterates that Salva Kiir is illegitimate for having killed over 20,000 ethnic Nuer population. He also accused Salva Kiir for rampant corruptions in the country.

Thousands of dollars disappeared, in cash, from Salva Kiir’s office in March 2013. Other corruptions cases such as Dura Saga and land deals end in Salva Kiir’s office.

“It was shocking news to me when I woke up one morning to learn that millions in cash money which was stored in the President’s office had gone missing,” a senior aide close to South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit said in March

Former Vice President of South Sudan – Riek Machar’s Hard talk