South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon has called for the reinstatement of two party officials relieved from government by President Salva Kiir.
The officials, who include Yolanda Awel Deng and Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, were among the 9 officials fired in a presidential decree on Monday.
Awel prior to her dismissal was the Minister of Health and Futuyo served as Governor of Western Equatoria State.
“The Political Bureau of the SPLM-IO calls on President Salva Kiir to reinstate Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister of Health and Gen.Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the Governor of Western Equatoria State to their respective positions,” said Machar on Tuesday in a statement.
Machar rejected what he termed a “unilateral decision” by President Kiir to remove the officials in violation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, which calls for collegial responsibility among the signatory parties prior to making major changes within the transitional unity government.
“The Political Bureau calls on President Salva Kiir to uphold the revitalized peace agreement as the persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence of the agreement,” he said.
In addition, Machar also condemned the alleged attempted assassination on Governor Futuyo by officers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF).
He claimed that the SSPDF attacked the official residence of Futuyo in the aftermath of his dismissal including SPLM-IO members in Yambio, Tambura and Nagero counties.
Machar also condemned the ongoing atrocities meted out by SSPDF on the civilians amid ongoing fighting with SPLA-IO forces in Nagero County of Western Equatoria and Ngap in Jur River County, Western Bahr El Ghazal State.
President Kiir is yet to appoint the Minister of Health and the Governor of Western Equatoria State.
The 2018 revitalized peace agreement gives prerogative to Machar’s party to appoint the Governors of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal State respectively.
