Lam Both claims unity gov’t was formed to implement peace, not to deliver services

JUBA – The secretary-general of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has claimed that the unity government, known as the R-TGoNU, was formed to implement the revitalized peace deal and not to deliver services.

Lam made the remarks while speaking during a party event marking SPLM/SPLA Day at the Crown Hotel in Juba.

“The government we have now is a government of agreement. It is not able to provide services,” Lam said.

“Its aim is to implement the agreement. And that’s why many of the problems we have today could not be resolved or could not be addressed in the way that we would like,” he explained.

Lam admitted the challenges but expressed confidence in the party’s vision.

“The fact that we have obstacles does not mean we have lost sight of our vision. It only means that the road is not straight, and we are going to get there,” he said.

“We are going to build a united, prosperous, democratic country called South Sudan where all citizens will be proud to belong,” he added.

The senior SPLM official acknowledged ongoing challenges with implementing the peace agreement and reiterated the SPLM’s commitment to free and fair elections.

“We have to make sure that we have an elected government in place before the end of the interim period,” Lam emphasized.

“We are still engaging with the rest of the political parties to come to a solution. But there is nothing that defeats the fact that the roadmap is ending. And we don’t want the government of South Sudan to fall apart,” he concluded.

The revitalized peace agreement was signed by President Salva Kiir, the leader of the SPLM, and his now deputy Riek Machar, head of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO, in September 2018 to end five years of conflict.

It primarily focuses on ending the conflict and establishing a framework for political and security arrangements. However, it does include provisions related to service delivery.

Chapter 4 of the agreement addresses Resource, Economic, and Financial Management, aiming to improve the equitable distribution of resources and enhance the delivery of essential services to the population.

This chapter emphasizes transparency and accountability in the management of public finances to ensure effective service delivery and development.