Machar, his party have no army to protect them in Juba, says Peter Lam Both

JUBA – The Interim Secretary General of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Peter Lam Both has lambasted the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar for saying that there is no political space in the country to enable them carry out their duties asking if the group has an army to protect its leader in Juba.

The remarks by the senior member of the ruling party signals flare up of tensions between the two biggest rival parties in the country.

Earlier this month, SPLM-IO deputy chairman and first deputy speaker of the transitional national legislative assembly Oyet Nathaniel Pierino threatened that his party may boycott the would-be 2023 elections unless all the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement are implemented.

Oyet fears that failure to have a unified security sector before conduct of elections may result in lack of protection for the heavily contested poll and said that his part is not afraid for elections, but want the agreement implemented fully as accepted by the parties during its signing in 2018.

Speaking during the launch of the SPLM-IO membership registration in Juba on Saturday, SPLM-IO deputy chairman and first deputy head of the transitional national legislative assembly, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said his group is not afraid of elections but wants the peace deal to be first implemented.

“We are not afraid of going for elections in this country. In fact, in 2013, we were calling for elections because the only election which was held in South Sudan was held when we were Southern Sudan in 2010,” Oyet said during his party’s membership registration launch on July 2 in Juba.

“We don’t want an election which is not free, and which is not fair to take place in South Sudan. We want an election which is credible, an election which grantees the rights and inspirations of the people of South Sudan, an election where South Sudanese will have an opportunity to vote for the leaders of their choices and not anybody choosing for them the leaders,” he said.

But in response, the SPLM Interim Secretary General Lam Both dismissed the fears that elections may be rigged if the security arrangement is not completed in its implementation before the conduct of elections, asking that the main armed opposition group which has been in Juba since the formation of the unity government has an army to protect them.

“If there was no political space, will Oyet talk here? If there was no political space, did we arrest them? Do they have an army to protect them here? That is the meaning of political space that they are free to talk,” he said on Friday.

“We must give South Sudanese their constitutional right to elect their leaders, they are tired of unending rebellions and transitional governments which do not serve the interest of the people, but the individual leaders,” he added.

The senior SPLM party official further claimed that “No matter how you go to implement the agreement, those parties will still want more because some of them cannot win an election, they want to sit there.”

US’ CALL FOR A UNIFIED SECURITY SECTOR

The United States of America on Saturday urged the South Sudanese leaders to work together to agree on the establishment of a unified security sector to protect the rights of the people of South Sudan and to also enable for a free and fair elections.

In a statement marking eleven years of independence, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated his country’s commitment to work with South Sudan’s transitional government in creating ways for a democratic future for South Sudan.

“The United States stands with the people of South Sudan. We are committed to working with the transitional government, a free and open civil society, and regional and international partners to create a pathway towards a democratic future,” he said.

Blinken said that the United States support efforts of South Sudan to build lasting peace, and urged the leaders of South Sudan to create necessary conditions for respect of human rights and translation of the aspiration of the people of South Sudan into reality.

“We support the efforts of the South Sudanese people to build lasting peace and create a society marked by dignity, opportunity, and prosperity,” Blinken said.

“We continue to urge South Sudan’s leaders to realize their people’s aspirations and take concrete steps to build a unified security service that respects human rights; to establish accountable and transparent economic management; and to create strong, democratic institutions and a conducive environment to support free, fair, and credible elections,” he added.