Machar told to submit nominees to unified forces’ command – presidency

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny has this evening been told to submit his list for the unified command following a meeting of the presidency chaired by President Salva Kiir, Machar and other vice-presidents that discussed the Kitgwang Declaration.

The presidency meeting comes a few days after factional clashes within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition killed at least 28 people just two days after General Simon Gatwech Dual, former chief of General Staff of the SPLA-IO, declared the ouster of Machar whom he accused of violating opposition interests by surrendering to Kiir.

In a communiqué following the presidency meeting, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny was told to submit a list of his nominees to the unified forces’ command for expedition of the unification of the rival forces.

“The Presidency calls for the immediate unification of the command of the forces and has directed First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny and Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to present their list of nominees for the unified command to His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” the communiqué reads in part.

“The unified command will include the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces; the South Sudan National Police Services; the National Security Services; the National Prisons Service; the Wildlife Forces; and the Civil Defence Forces,” it adds.

It further added that President Salva Kiir “directs the parties to the R-ARCSS to endeavour to resolve conflicts amicably in order to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan.”