Why Politicians are Defecting to Riek Machar’s Camp Now?
It’s not Defection; it’s about Positioning for Political Slots
By Mapuor Malual Manguen
South Sudan government has recently witnessed hype of defections to Riek Machar led rebel group, the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-O). First to announce defection was commander of Division six in reserved list Maj Gen Dau Aturjong followed by Member of National Legislative Assembly, Dr. Richard K. Mulla and, Dr. Francis George Nazario, the former country Deputy permanent representative to United Nations.
Some quarters may attribute latest switching to recent visit in Kenya by rebel leader, Dr. Riek Machar and his subsequent meetings with top government officials in that country in addition to mass mobilization of his supporters residing in Kenya. To a large extent, this is not the case in my view.
The push factor here is not what Riek Machar made in Kenya that had finally convinced them. The peace Roadmap which President Kiir Mayardit signed with Dr. Riek Machar on May 9, to establish among others, Transitional Government of National Unity is the one which stirred up what I called in this case “movement hopping”.
The likes of Maj. Gen. Dau Aturjong are damn ambitious lot who would not miss any opportunity that would give him ladder to be Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State which of course is base on an illusion. What have they been waiting for all this time? The war didn’t just start yesterday or last week when Machar visited Nairobi; it’s six months old now.
In the last six months, Dr. Riek Machar has been leading a tribal section of SPLA and armed civilians to wage relentless war against Juba with intention of taking power by force from legitimate government led by President Kiir Mayardit. This movement known as SPLM/A in Opposition is an ethnic outfit because it is a movement of one tribe.
But since, its leader Dr. Riek Machar agreed with President Kiir to establish interim government whose structure, mandate, and duration are still under discussions, the opportunists are out to position themselves and grab any dangling slots that may be allocated to Machar come final political settlement.
Although Riek soldiers are almost all from his tribe, it does not mean these ethnic fighters would exclusively occupy Machar’s slots in interim government. Machar as a politician with his eyes in country’s topmost political seat definitely has to hunt for support from other tribes or regions. And this is the opportunity the new defectors want to grab.
While some may attribute new political development to recent aggressive political undertones of Dr. Machar on his call for federal government as suitable solution to South Sudan political crises, the author believes it’s just a gimmick to cheat South Sudanese once again as politicians in this country to a large extent, consider ordinary citizens as gullible as soccer fans.
It should be note that South Sudanese leaders are as greedy as a friend of mine dramatized it that our politicians are “Positioning themselves to share in the next round of looting”.
The author is based in Juba. He can be reached at mapuormalual@yaho
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