Gov’t must stop aggressive language against South Sudan’s western friends – Yakani

JUBA – South Sudan’s prominent activist Edmund Yakani is warning the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit against using aggressive language against the citizens and the country’s friends such as the United States, United Kingdom and Norway.

This comes after information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth threatened that the government may proceed with the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement in absence of Troika, accusing them of being “here to obstruct our own initiative.”

Makuei who was speaking to reporters following the endorsement of the extension of the transitional period by R-JMEC said the Troika countries are not signatories to the peace agreement and shouldn’t be in the R-JMEC meeting in the first place.

“For Troika to decline to vote, originally, the Troika is not signatories to the agreement and they are not even supposed to be sitting here. But we allow them to sit and if they have come here to obstruct our own initiative and they are absent from it then we will continue without them if they so wish,” he said.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, Yakani who is also the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the government must avoid aggressive language to South Sudan’s friends and its own citizens and that the government should intimidate them.

“CEPO is strongly urging the political leaders to avoid past culture of aggressive and intimidation attitudes and language towards the citizens and friends of South Sudan. The American and Western as a whole are our friends and we shouldn’t intimidate them,” Yakani said.

The outspoken activist urged the government to demonstrate the needed political will in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, arguing that the Troika couldn’t support the extension because lack of political will and inclusivity informed their decision.

“CEPO would like to tell South Sudan leaders to demonstrate serious commitment to deliver the pending tasks of the peace agreement before rolling out the roadmap for 24 months to win the trust and confidence of the Troika and the citizens across South Sudan,” Yakani said.

“For Troika to vote against the endorsement of the extension of the transitional period was a show of frustrations which is a consequence of lack of serious commitment from the political leaders during the last three years,” he added.

Yakani said that “lack of consultative engagement with the civil society during the development of the roadmap informed the position of Troika not to support the extension of the transitional period for 24 months.”

“It is high time for the political leadership to deliver pending tasks seriously during the remaining six months of the transitional period before extension kick off on 22 February 2023,” the award-winning activist further said.

Yakani further revealed that the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) would be “organizing a 2-day roundtable to deliberate and adopt action plan for the remaining six months of the transitional period this month” and urged the political leaders “to renew their political pledge for the genuine implementation of the peace agreement.”