Kiir-Machar ‘incompetence’ and ‘mistrust’ failed 2 peace deals, says PCCA

JUBA – South Sudan’s civil rights movement, the Peoples Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), has said that the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018 and its 2015 predecessor could not succeed due to incompetence, and deep mistrust between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

The PCCA has called for a meeting of South Sudan stakeholders as the country close in on the end of the transitional in which the parties to the revitalized peace agreement are required to go for democratic elections for citizens to choose a leader of their own.

But critical provisions of the revitalized peace agreement including the security arrangements haven’t yet been implemented with the Kiir administration blaming international sanctions for the delay in the graduation of the unified forces.

In a statement, the PCCA said that it believes that the fundamental problem of South Sudan is the failure of its leaders to build consensus and therefore efforts to address the leadership issue is critical for the country returning back to peace.

“We believe that the fundamental problem in South Sudan is rooted in the failure of political leadership and so seeking a solution that addresses the leadership issue is critical,” the statement said.

The PCCA statement said President Kiir and First Vice President Machar cannot work together because they lack trust and the peace agreements they signed in 2015 and 2018 could not succeed because the two men do not go along.

“The 8 years of joint Kiir-Riek administration (2005-2013), plus the 2015 and 2018 agreements, show clearly that Salva Kiir and Riek Machar cannot work together because of deep-seated mistrust and sheer incompetence, but they are holding the country to ransom as every peace agreement brings them back to lead the country,” the PCCA said.

“It is this mistrust between them that is the cause of the failure of the two peace agreements to deliver on the desired results. The people of South Sudan in the National Dialogue Conference were unanimous that the two must step aside if the country is to enjoy peace and stability. It is our considered opinion that the two must not be part of any transitional set-up after 22 February 2023,” it added.

The group said “The people of South Sudan have spoken through the South Sudan National Dialogue, its resolutions must therefore be considered part of a puzzle in building national consensus, with an eye to subject controversial provisions to further debates as a measure to include those who were excluded.

“We believe that one way to avoid more crises in the country is to convene a national political dialogue that will culminate in a new administration of public trust, led by people of consensus and technocrats. We also believe in the need to build a new, credible, inclusive professional national army and security with the support of international military panel of experts.

“We do not consider the current security, political, and economic conditions conducive for the conduct credible, free, and fair elections, though we believe strongly in the exercise of democratic elections as the basis for attaining a legitimate government.

“The PCCA believes that South Sudan has seen more than enough violence, so we seek change in South Sudan non-violently.”