A patriotic young South Sudanese carrying the SPLA/RSS flag. Photo||past file
Feb, 7, 2014 [Radio Miraya, Juba] — President Salva Kiir has declared the position of SPLM party Vice President, vacant. The position was held by former Vice President Riek Machar.
The President has also declared the position of SPLM Secretary General vacant, a position previously held by Pagan Amum.
President Kiir made the announcement during a meeting with SPLM party leaders in Juba Thursday evening.
During the meeting, the President said he will appoint replacements for the positions of Vice President and Secretary General in the coming days. The President also said he would decide on the status of membership of members of the party’s National Liberation Council and party MPs who have defected to the opposition.
The President also appealed to people seeking safety at UN camps and other protection sites to return to their homes.
He called on Parliamentarians and government officials in these sites to serve as an example and return to their homes first. On the Addis Ababa negotiations, the President said he would form a committee within the next 2 days to ‘support’ the government negotiating team in Addis Ababa.
President Kiir says the team, will coordinate with the delegation in Addis over pertinent issues to be tabled at the negotiations The President also spoke of a ‘shake up’ in the foreign service, saying ambassadors have not done enough in engaging the international community during the crisis period.
During the meeting, the party’s acting Secretary General Anne Itto announced the suspension of the salaries of 3 party members, who are engaged in negotiations in Addis on behalf of the SPLM in the position.
Itto did not name the 3 party members.
