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JUBA — A South Sudanese Juba-based activist is urging the regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to intervene in resolving deadly fighting between rival factions of South Sudan First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar’s group, SPLM-IO.
Deadly fighting erupted on Saturday in the Magenis area of Upper Nile State between SPLA-IO forces loyal to Machar and his former chief of staff, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
The fighting erupted few days after a group of military generals declared that they had deposed Dr. Riek as head of the SPLM-IO and commander-in-chief of the SPLA-IO.
“I am calling upon IGAD leadership to immediately intervene in resolving these internal SPLA-IO frictions that have already led to military confrontation,” Edmund Yakani Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Yakani worried that the SPLA-IO military confrontation would jeopardize the smooth implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
“This negative development among the SPLA-IO will undermine the implementation of the peace agreement,” Yakani added.
The outspoken called on the two rivals to immediately cease hostilities and seek peaceful means to address their grievances.
“The two conflicting parties need to cease military confrontation immediately and resolve their grievances in a non-violent manner,” he said.
“The leadership of the conflicting SPLA-IO factions should take responsibility to dialogue and find solutions for sorting out their misunderstanding,” he added.
The human rights activist urged the rivals to protect civilians.
“The conflicting factions of the SPLA-IO should respect the cessation of hostilities agreement of 2017 as well as the protection of civilians and human rights should not be compromised by conflicting parties in Magenis,” he said.
