Kiir angered by Machar’s use of ‘deadlock’ to tell outcome of presidency meeting

JUBA, MARCH 12, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The office of the president on Saturday afternoon warned the office of the first vice president against use of sensational language after the later said in a statement that a contentious meeting between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar ended in a deadlock on Thursday.

Kiir and Machar had met on Friday afternoon to discuss the controversial sacking of the minister of defense and the subsequent transfer of the docket from the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under Machar to Kiir’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG).

Following the meeting, Machar’s office issued a statement informing the public that the meeting had ended in “deadlock” between the two men and that preparations were ongoing to organize another meeting between the two principals to discuss the same matter in the future.

In reaction on Saturday, the office of the president denied that the meeting had ended in deadlock and warned the office of the first vice president against use of sensational language which it said may jeopardize the current atmosphere.

“The Presidential Press Unit would like to inform the public that the meeting held yesterday between His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny did not end in deadlock as reported by some media houses,” it said.

“While the two leaders did not come to an agreement in the meeting yesterday, the consensus among the parties to meet at a later date was a positive commitment to resolve the issues at hand in the spirit of cooperation. Therefore, any attempt to portray this as an impasse threaten to jeopardize the spirit of the meeting.

“Furthermore, given the keen public interest in the outcome of yesterday’s meeting, it is important that our duty to inform should not be overtaken by the urge to sensationalise issues of national importance. In recognition of this, the Presidential Press Unit urges the media professionals particularly, media staff in the Office of the First Vice President to be mindful of their responsibilities towards peace and stability in our country,” the statement added.

The statement, a copy of which is seen by Sudans Post, further said that President Salva Kiir Mayardit “is committed to the full implementation of the Agreement in letter and spirit.”