Activist Yakani welcomes release of SPLM-IG officials in Panyijiar, hails suspension of commissioner

JUBA – A prominent South Sudanese activist has welcomed the release of SPLM-IG official in Panyijiar County after several weeks of detention and hailed the suspension of the Panyijiar commissioner by the governor for violating the revitalized peace agreement.

Last week, members of the ruling SPLM faction said dozens of their officials have been detained by Commissioner Majiok Bol who they accused of restricting political space to opposition parties such as the SPLM-IO.

The officials were released last Friday, but Unity State governor Joseph Nguen Manytuil issued a gubernatorial decree on Tuesday night suspending the SPLM-IO commissioner of Panyijiar County until further notice.

In a statement, the Executive Director of Commissioner Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani welcomed the release of the SPLM-IG officials in Panyijiar land hailed the governor for suspending the commissioner over the violations of political rights of SPLM-IG officials.

“CEPO welcomes and appreciates the release of the detained SPLM members by the Panyijiar county commissioner. The detention of the SPLM members was a violation of the recent presidency directive to states governors, county commissioners and chief administrators of administrative areas dated 22^nd October 2022,” Yakani said in the statement extended to Sudans Post this morning.

The prominent activist further said “the decision of the state governor suspending the Panyijiar county commissioner is a remarkable act and expected act of a leader on issue of violation of government decision or law. Holding leaders that violates decisions and law accountability is the expected results from any other leader.”

OPENING OF POLITICAL CIVIC SPACE

The comments by Yakani comes less than a month after President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny agreed in a meeting to open up civic political space to allow for competitive political activities among the signatories of the revitalized peace agreement.

In the statement, Yakani stressed the important of civic space and pointed to the October 22 directives of the presidency for inclusive political engagement in all parties of the country where arrests and detention of officials from rival parties have always been reported.

“Opening of the political and civic space through the directives of the presidency dated 22^nd October 2022 is critical for inclusive engagement in the political transitional process for political parties and stakeholders through the implementation of the R-ARCSS,” Yakani said.

“Restrictions of political and civic space in the face of the political transitional through the R-ARCSS implementation is absolute violation of the spirit of the R-ARCSS,” Yakani stressed.

“Finally, CEPO is urging governors, commissioners and chief administrators to observe and enforce the presidency directives on opening of political and civic space.

“CEPO is closely tracking compliance of the governors, commissioners and chief administrators with the presidency directives on opening of political and civic space.”