August 17, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — As the August 17th dateline come to pass, the leaders of South Sudan, with exception of Mr. Salva Kiir, have signed the revised IGAD-Plus Compromise Peace Agreement today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
While Dr. Riek Machar Teny signed the agreement on behave of SPLM/SPLA, Pagan Amum signed the document on behave of the former detainees, and Salva Kiir initialized the document to signalize his commitment to append his full signature after consultations within fifteen(15) days.
While the Ugandan President, a close aid to Salva Kiir, walked out of peace talks, Mr. Kiir requested for further consultations before signing the agreement.
“They have only initialed it because they have certain observations, which they have decided to go back to their country and consult with the constituency after which, in the next 15 days, the government will come back to Addis Ababa to finalize the peace agreement,” said Amb Mesfin.
According to Chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin, despite that the signing of the agreement was “not complete”, this particular dateline is “a great day in the forward movement of the peace process in South Sudan”
The parties have substantial “reservations” over contentious issues ranging from power sharing, system of governance, demilitarization of Juba to reintegration of forces during the transitional period, however, signing the agreement was in the best interest of restoring stability in the world’s youngest nation.
While some stakeholders like mama Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of SPLM founder Dr. John Garang, burst in tears as president Salva Kiir delays signing of the peace agreement, other members were heavily overwhelmed by the signing of representatives of all the other parties.
Power Sharing
Contrary to the original IGAD-Plus proposals, the two main factions of SPLM/SPLA under the leadership of Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar Teny have traded off a share of their power ratios in each of the ten states.
While the GRSS will take the majority seats in all the ten states, SPLM/SPLA [IO] will be represented in all the states in the country.
According to the new document, SPLM-IG will control 46% of power in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile Stats and 85% of power in the remaining seven states of Greater Equatoria and Greater Bhar el Ghazal.
The SPLM/SPLA in Opposition, on the other hand, will control 40% of power in the three states of Greater Upper Nile [Unity, Jonglei, and Upper Nile] and 15% of power in other seven states.
This proposal leaves the SPLM/SPLA-IG in control of 53% of power at the national level, SPLM/SPLA-IO in control of its original 33% as the SPLM-Leaders [FDs] and other political parties equally share the remaining 14% of power at the national level.
The final proposal further established that the SPLM/SPLA-IO will nominate the governors of the oil rich Unity and Upper Nile states while the SPLM-IG nominates the governor of Jonglei state during the transitional period.
Composition of National Assembly:
The National Legislative Assembly, which compromises of 332 members will maintain its sitting as prior to December 2013.
All the defected members of parliament, except in the case of death, will be reinstated to their positions as before December 2013.
In addition the SPLM/SPLA in Opposition will appoint fifty (50) additional new members of parliament.
The SPLM-FD are permitted to appoint one addition member of parliament and all the other political parties will appoint 17 additional members of parliament.
Security Arrangement
As proposed in the original IGAD-Plus Compromise Peace Agreement (CPA), Juba will be demilitarized during the transitional period.
With exception of 265 bodyguards for Salva Kiir and 195 bodyguards for Dr. Riek Machar, the two sides will keep their armies at approximately 25 kilometers away from the capital, Juba.
To guarantee security in the capital cities, foreign troops comprising of IGAD and UNMISS forces, will secure the capital(s) during the 30 months transitional period until a peaceful transfer of powers is achieved through national elections in 2018.
During this period, the two sides will maintain their separate armies with Dr. Riek Machar and Salva Kiir as commander-in-chiefs of their respective armies until a full amalgamation and transformation of the army is finalized.
Accountability, Reconciliation and Compensation:
The revised Compromised Peace Agreement further endorses a Hybrid Court to try all perpetrators of genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It is also agreed that various committees will be established to oversee Reconciliation, national healing, peace and compensations of the victims of the current civil war.
Other fundamental elements such as federalism will be adopted if agreed upon by the people in free and fair referendums.
10 comments
There is no peace with out compromise & only heroes & genuine people can make compromise because they understand the importance of peace. The fact that SPLM IO has presence in ten of the states gives it a better chance of implementing the reforms through out the country instead of cornering it self to the uppernile states & is useful instate SPLM IO members from other states in their respective states. This way, there is no question referendum will be adopted & all reforms will be implemented. Bravo SPLM IO leadership. Salva Kiir should have the courage to sign the peace otherwise, worse is to come. The ball is in the hand of MR kiir. Thank you riek machar for cornering the thieves.
Congratulation Dr. Riak Machar for showing your commitment on peace for south Sudanese, you have done your part. I thinks it is clear to the whole world who is in charge of keeling South Sudanese. Sorry Mama Nyandeng, this could end but you and G10 betray Dr.Machar, Pagan was appointed as Chief negotiator and you deputy him but all in vain how come you cry today?
Kiir has been given more than he deserved. I don’t see any reason for him to ask for more time to consult before he spends his signature. Riek Macher will be absolved of any future problems that will befall South Sudan.
NUER, You have heroe generals & freedom fighters but with out your brilliant son RIEK Machar, it would have been difficult to achieve what you have achieved today. Museveni thought RIEK machar is a simple guy like salva kiir, now musveni is going crazy & salva kiir is going crazy because of him. They are standing naked. Respect for your son & your heroe freedom fighters. Congratulations to all south sudanese & SPLM IO supporters. WIth out Riek machar & his team, museveni could have succeeded to convince the international community that the nuer fighters are negative fources should be dealt using regional millitary support.
Karab,
Those are good words for Dr. Machar. By the way he is a “Doctor” and no ordinary person. His intellect and analytical skills equals that of Kiir and Museveni put together. Again, he earned his PhD and did not forge it like some academic fraudsters/impostors. Soon, we shall put it in our permanent constitution, that persons vying for constitutional posts must have at least a BSc/BA and for a position of president, one must have a PhD. This will stop such half-idiots fromtaking foolish decisions and doing silly things for the country. South Sudan Needs “thinkers” NOT “drinkers”
SPLM have to solve their diferences and leave our people in Dignity,peace and respect. There is nothing our people can gain from them at all than only violent. Leave Us In Peace Leave Us In Peace.
Let kiir decided his last chance in south sudan other wise m7 will take him to no where.
Kiir had made good decision because Nuer are going to fight themselves within 15 Days. Let us wait and see if they will settle in peace. A walk of shame and humiliation for them. Well done Think-Tanks.
I have two questions to, now the SPLM IG had 53% and SPLM IO with 33% do the are still one SPLM party? or two separate independent parties?
We people should cry and not Mabior Garang’s mama.This is what they call think of tomorrow when SUNRISE and when SUNSET. One never know what will happen tomorrow and this is the tomorrow for Mrs.Rebecca Nyandeng.