South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
First Vice President and leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Riek Machar has been tipped to be a running mate of President Salva Kiir in the upcoming general election.
Prof. Abraham Kuol Nyuon, Dean of School of Social and Economic Studies at the University of Juba, in an interview with The Dawn on Monday in Juba, suggested that this would be realized when the various splinter factions of the SPLM party agree to unify on the basis of the 2015 reunification agreement signed in Arusha.
“The only best way that could be able to work at this specific point is to revisit what we call the Arusha SPLM reunification agreement, it is very important because that is the best window for going for elections,” Kuol said.
He said the reunification of splinter factions remains the best option for preserving peace in the aftermath of elections.
“If we want to go for elections, it can only be a presidential election on the condition that Kiir and Riek should be working together,” Kuol disclosed.
He noted that the reunification of the SPLM will see top party cadres like Vice Presidents Taban Deng Gai, Riek Machar and James Wani Igga and President Kiir together with descanted senior members like Pagan Amum and Thomas Cirilo working as a team.
Pagan Amum who leads the Real-SPLM together with Paul Malong Awan, the former chief of staff of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) who heads the South Sudan United Front are participating in the Nairobi peace talks with the government.
South Sudan is set to hold elections in December this year.
On 21st January 2015, representatives of three factions of the SPLM signed a 12-page agreement in Arusha, Tanzania laying out key steps toward reunifying the party.
They include the party loyal to President Salva Kiir, SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar and SPLM-Former Detainees.
The SPLM factions agreed to comply with the provisions of a cessation of hostilities agreement, and to make a “public apology to the people of South Sudan for what has happened since December 15, 2013.”
They also agreed to “combat the culture of tribalism, militarism and sectarianism” in politics, and to work toward building a South Sudan in which political efforts are focused on democracy and development.
