General Cirilo condemns ‘reckless and irresponsible’ withdrawal of Kiir from Rome talks

JUBA – South Sudan’s holdout opposition South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka has condemned President Salva Kiir’s decision on Monday in which he suspended participation of the government of South Sudan from the ongoing talks with SSOMA in Italy’s capital Rome.

On Monday, Kiir said during the opening session of the reconstituted national legislature that he has directed the government negotiators to withdraw from Rome talks claiming that the National Salvation Front (NAS), a founding member of the SSOMA, is violating the ceasefire agreement despite the ongoing talks and said his government won’t return to Rome until when the holdout rebel group cease the highway attacks.

However, in a statement this afternoon, SSOMA denied the claims by the President and instead accused Kiir’s security agencies of standing behind the recent highway attacks in which five citizens including two catholic nuns were shot dead.

“The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) notes with concern President Kiir’s statement that he has ’paused’ the Juba regime’s participation in the Rome Peace Initiative under the mediation of the Community of Sant’Egidio. Kiir’s statement was delivered on 30th August, 2021 during the opening session of the Revitalized- Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R- TNLA). President Kiir went on to repeat his lies of accusing SSOMA and specifically the National Salvation Front (NAS) of being responsible for insecurity along the Juba-Nimule highway,” the SSOMA said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“SSOMA condemns Kiir’s statements as reckless and irresponsible utterances of guilt and lame at- tempt at shifting blame and responsibility to SSOMA. SSOMA would like to remind our fellow South Sudanese and the International Community, reiterating our position and strong conviction, that Kiir’s regime and its South Sudan People’s Defense Force and the National Security Service (SSPDF/NSS) are the prime and responsible culprits for insecurity on Juba-Nimule road and in the killings of the two Catholic nuns and the other innocent citizens. SSOMA and the people of South Sudan hold President Kiir responsible for the insecurity and killings of innocent civilians not only on the Juba Nimule highway but all over the country,” the statement added.

The statement added that the holdout alliance “does not have presence at the said incident area along the Juba-Nimule highway. The barbaric incident happened while Juba-Nimule highway was in complete security protection as the Juba regime’s elites including President Kiir and VP James Wani Igga, among others, were traveling from Loa to Juba that very day after attending Loa Parish Centenary celebration. Therefore, it is none other than elements of SSPDF and NSS who committed this heinous crime.”

“SSOMA is however not surprised by Kiir suspending the participation of his regime’s engagement in the Rome Peace Initiative. Kiir’s statement of ’pausing’ his regime’s engagement with SSOMA through the Community of Sant’Egidio is an indication of the regime’s usual lack of political will to end the suffering of the people of South Sudan and bring about sustainable peace and prosperity.

“SSOMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan through addressing the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan in credible negotiations.”