SPLM-IO official says latest COVID-19 lockdown a ploy to prevent Machar from visiting forces

JUBA – A senior member of South Sudan’s SPLM-IO is claiming that the partial lockdown imposed by teh government of South Sudan on Wednesday is a ploy by the former ITGONU to prevent First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny from visiting his forces, a day after the presidency announced that Machar had been allowed to visit forces for peace dissemination.

Duk Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council said in a statement to Sudans Post that they welcomed the decision by the presidency to allow Machar to visit his forces, but were surprised to see another lock down being imposed in a move he said is meant to jeopardize the plans by Machar to visit forces in several locations across the country.

“The presidency had approved that  Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President and Chairman of the SPLM-IO, and other vice-presidents and ministers visit all the SPLM-IO control areas to address our Members and military leaders and to disseminate the peace agreement,” Majokdit said.

“Unfortunately the Vice President for Services Cluster announced another Lockdown in the Country for one Month,” he said, adding  “it is a politically motivated  move to prevent Comrade Chairman Dr. Riek Machar from visiting SPLM-IO controlled areas this dry season which is all mischief and should not work at all.”

The senior opposition official further argued that the country should not go for another lockdown, claiming that there is no coronavirus in the country, calling the lockdown a businesses.

“The country should not go under  political lockdown again because of the fact that there is no COVID-190 in the country. What we have is a ‘pandemic for business’ to generate money getting 75 dollar per a test.”