JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has called on the regional and international communities to ‘prevail’ on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to prevent him from returning the world’s youngest country to civil war, saying recent actions from the president and the army constitutes a serious deterioration of the security situation in the country that may take the country back to war.
Throughout the month of March, South Sudan army troops and SPLA-IO defectors crossing to the SSPDF have been launching attacks on SPLA-IO positions in Unity and Upper Nile state sparking international condemnations with calls to investigate the attacks that observers fear could trigger another return to the deadly conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands.
In a statement reaffirming its commitment to the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, First Vice President Machar who doubles as the chairman and commander in chief of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) said the recent escalation in attacks on SPLA-IO cantonment sites constitutes a serious deterioration of the security situation in South Sudan.
“The security situation in South Sudan has been deteriorating for the last few months. The systematic and persistent attacks by the SSPDF on cantonment sites, training centers and other positions of SPLM/A (10) around the country are evident of such deterioration and it is now a matter of serious concern,” Machar said in the statement.
“The latest of these attacks took place in Kaljaak and Mirmir in Unity State; Kuerkeem, Wangkuerbi and Jiokow in Maiwut County and Wech Lual, Guol and Biot in Longechuk County of Upper Nile State,” the prominent opposition leader asserted in the statement.
He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement and that the main armed opposition group sees no alternative to the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and then called on the IGAD, the regional bloc which mediated the agreement, and the international community to prevent President Kiir from returning the country back to war.
“The SPLM/A (IO) see no alternative to R-ARCSS to bring stability and peace in the country. The people of South Sudan are already suffering from economic hardships and insecurity,” Machar said.
“Therefore, we request, as a matter of urgency, the intervention of IGAD and other international partners to prevail on President Salva Kiir not to take this country back to war (Article 1.4.2.),” he added.
