Machar ‘trying to force another transition’ in South Sudan – Mabior Garang

JUBA – South Sudan’s former deputy minister of interior Mabior Garang De Mabior has claimed that First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny is working in an attempt to force another transitional period in South Sudan claiming that the powerful and prominent opposition leader is not popular.

This comes after Machar issued a statement withdrawing from security mechanisms following deadly attacks on SPLA-IO positions in Upper and Unity states where dozens of opposition soldiers including a top SPLA-IO commander were killed by South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

“Riek Machar is trying to force another transition. This is why they have declared war on our civil population. They want to muddy the waters before the elections because they are not popular leaders. They have been imposed on our citizens by the IGAD Agreement’s power sharing ratios. The Riek Machar Politicians should not be allowed to hold our nascent Republic hostage in the name of populist outrage. They have proven beyond any doubt, they do not care about our peoples struggle,” Mabior claimed.

The former SPLM-IO spokesman said First Vice President Machar was advised by senior SPLM-IO officials not to travel to Juba before the implementation of the security arrangements and with 2020 return to Juba, he lost credibility among the SPLM-IO and the South Sudanese public.

“The SPLM-IO under Riek Machar lost credibility when they went to Juba without implementation of Security Arrangements. The reformist leader turned FVP, was warned by his Generals and by many Senior Politicians, not to go to Juba the way he did. He cannot tell us something is wrong three years and USD 100 Million later. Riek Machar Politicians want to portray an image to the public, that they are outraged by the lack of implementation of Security Arrangements,” Mabior said.

“This is mischief brothers and sisters! Why does Riek Machar not call for a commission of Inquiry into embezzlement of these funds intended for the implementation of Security Arrangements? Why does the IO not call for an investigation into what made the Security Mechanisms collapse? Why declare war on our innocent people? It is simple, they want to force a transition,” he added.

He said First Vice President Machar “Machar went to Juba based on a decision taken at a family meeting, it was not a political decision. He did not involve the PB, the NLC nor his Generals. Why now? This was why the original SPLM-IO was deposed by the Kit Gwang Declaration -there is no longer a credible SPLM-IO. Today Riek Machar and his myopic politicians want to tell us about a PB which has sat in Juba to decide this and the that!

“The Public should not be deceived. The only power remaining with the SPLM-IO is that the IGAD Agreement was not made for Junubeen (South Sudanese). It was tailor made for Riek Machar as an individual. What Riek Machar is pretending to be a PB of the IO are hungry politicians he found in Juba who have been rejected by the status quo.

“The SPLM-IO has gone from being a formidable reform movement, to being a club of South Sudanese political rejects. They are against elections because none of them -including their Political Godfather, Riek Machar- can win an election in their respective villages. The peoples of South Sudan must push for elections so that we can send these political thugs home in 2023.”