Kiir urges holdout groups to join peace process

JUBA, MAY 19, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday reiterated calls for holdout opposition groups to join the ongoing peace process in the country to move the country toward elections.

The head of state made the call during the closing session of a three-day conference on transitional justice mechanism in Juba on Thursday.

“On this note, I want to repeat my call on my brothers and sisters, the non-signatory to the agreement to join us in the journey of peace, reconciliation and healing,” Kiir said.

“This country is a great country and there is enough for all of us to enjoy, our people need all of us,” he added.

The president called on government officials to advocate peace and reconciliation to create conducive atmosphere for free, fair, and credible elections in December 2024.

“Encourage peace and reconciliation wherever you maybe that is the only way for us to move the country forward and to be able to genuinely allow the people to elect their leaders in free, fair and credible process,” he said.

“I am sure, nobody in South Sudan thought one day we would fight among ourselves after gaining our independence,” he added.

For his part, First Vice President Riek Machar who is also Kiir’s main rival said the conference is a right step towards realization of political transformation in South Sudan.

“The conference appreciated, commended and also praise the political will of the government and particularly of your Excellency the President for conducting this important conference,” Machar who leads the main armed opposition SPLM-IO said.

“Some of the experts commended very positively that for those who have attended many of transitional justice conferences, they had not seen what they have seen in South Sudan, and so in a way we are giving the rest of Africa who are handling transitional justice a new experience,” Machar added.

The conference was attended by state Governors, Chief Administrators, County Commissioners, regional and international experts. It aimed to establish the Commission of Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing, and Compensation and Reparation Authority.