Activist decries ‘blatant violation’ of peace deal after Kiir removed top SPLM-IO lawmaker

BOR, JANUARY 6^TH 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudanese activist in the country’s Jonglei State has decried the removal, by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, of a senior lawmaker belonging to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Jonglei describing it as a ‘blatant violation’ to the revitalized peace agreement.

Kiir last Tuesday issued several republican decrees dismissing at least 15 senior government officials including Amer Ateny Alier, the SPLM-IO-nominated speaker of Jonglei State parliament, without prior consultation with the main armed opposition group.

The president did not name a successor and the SPLM-IG nominated deputy will act as the speaker of parliament.

In a statement, Bol Deng Bol, the President of the Jonglei State Civil Society Network (JSCSN) and Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan, said the removal of the top state opposition lawmaker violates the revitalized peace agreement which provides in one of its articles for consultations before such decisions are made in the presidency.

“This dismissal and the previous denial to appoint the then SPLM-IO’s Nominee for Upper Nile State Governorship are equally deliberate actions in a blatant Violation of the provisions in the Peace Agreement. It is a potential source of misunderstanding and conflicts amongst and beyond the political Parties to R-ARCSS,” Bol said in the statement extended to Sudans Post this afternoon.

“The dismissal of the Speaker is not only a disrespect to the President’s equal Partners, but also a trigger for further instability in Jonglei State political arena. It is a bad precedent and a major stumbling block in the implementation of R-ARCSS,” he added.

The activist further appealed to President Kiir to revoke and reconsider the decision and urged the governor of Jonglei State to allow politicians brought to his government by the revitalized peace agreement to exercise their political rights.

“It is concerning all including the Civil Society and with utmost respect, I am appealing to the President to revoke this dismissal and instead follow the right procedures in accordance to the peace accord. Reinstating the Speaker will diffuse the sharp difference conjured by the unilateral decision,” Bol said.

“Finally, I want to urge the Governor of Jonglei State, His Excellency Denay Jock Chagor to not allow emotions, stemming from their differences with the dismissed Speaker to cost disregard for the Peace agreement. This is the same manner with which the very Governor had his then Deputy, Ambassador Nyok Kucha dismissed.

“The Governor should instead be more accommodative of and respectful to the diverging views not only from the Legislative wing of the Government but also the Citizens of Jonglei State. Taking personal these opinions will only result into emotional actions, such as this costly dismissal of the Speaker,” he concluded.