South Sudan’s crippling civic space undermines transition from violence to peace, gov’t told

JUBA – South Sudan government’s continued restriction of political space for opposition groups is jeopardizing efforts to transition the country’s politics from violence to peace through the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement, an activist has said.

This comes hours after the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny said publishing companies that it usually contract to print banners and T-shirts were being shut down by the National Security Service (NSS).

“[I am] very disappointed by shocking reports from the market of widespread crackdown by National Security operatives and police as well as threats of closure of all printing press printing SPLM IO political party logo, party color T-Shirts, banners and flags,” SPLM deputy chairman Oyet Nathaniel said Monday.

“We have been saying the organized forces, the National Security Services and the National police services etc are working as paramilitary forces and are heavily under influence of political directives and affiliated to the SPLM-IG,” he added.

He stressed that “The lack of political space and civil liberties (marginalization) are real danger and remain the biggest threats to democratization and political pluralism in the country. Our fight against dictatorship is only being made stronger than ever before.”

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani said the restrictions of the civic space make it hard for the country to transition from violence to peace.

“The act of restricting political space for multi-parties practice is getting worse. Evidently the restrictions for printing companies not to engage in printing communication items of the SPLM-IO is unacceptable and it is violation of the spirit for a successful politics of transition from violence to peace through the implementation of the R-ARCSS,” Yakani said.

The prominent activist further urged “the government agencies to respect civic space for democratic transformation of our country’s current situation into stability.”