Giving Dr. Riek executive powers is a reward for killing and bad precedent
By David Aoloch Bion
Recently, the IGAD leaders, President of Kenya, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and Prime Minister of Uganda held convention on the South Sudan crisis in Juba. The details of the convention were not revealed to the public, however, according to the sources close to President Salva Kiir , it says the IGAD leaders asked President to choose from the three options.
- Giving up executive powers to Dr. Riek Machar or
- Giving up the chairmanship of the SPLM party to Dr. Riek so that after interim period ,Mr. Kiir should not contest for upcoming election and then Dr Riek will contest on the SPLM ticket or
- Implementation of sanction by IGAD countries against him. This means If Mr Kiir does not accept the two conditions, the International Community will impose sanction on Kiir Government and the IGAD will implement it by blockading Kiir in Juba . Isolating South Sudan, South Sudan oil will not go to international market. South Sudan will not buy goods from Uganda, Kenya; therefore Kiir government will fall.
This is true, but rather the question , Which country among IGAD countries that has no problems? Which country has it problem being solved the way South Sudan crisis is trying to be solved? All IGAD countries have problems, Ethiopia has problem, Uganda has problems, Kenya had problems, Sudan has problems,
Ethiopia has the rebels’ movement called the Oromu People Liberation Movement; these rebels are killing people in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has not given executive powers because the rebels are killing people. For this reasons Ethiopia can’t tell South Sudan to give executive powers or presidency to rebels.
Kenya had violence in 2007 when Ralia Odinga accused Mai Kibaki of rigging election. Was Ralia Odinga given executive powers or presidency because people were being killed by Odinga supporters? No. For this reason Kenya can’t tell South Sudan to give executive powers to rebels .
Uganda has the rebels Lord Resistant Army that cut the mouth of people. Has the Uganda government given the executive powers or Presidency because they are killing people? No . For that reason Uganda can’t tell South Sudan to give executive powers to rebels .
Sudan has the rebels in Darfur, Nuba Moutains , and Blue Nile . Has Sudan given executive powers or presidency to rebels because they are killing people? No. For that reasons Sudan can’t tell South Sudan to give executive powers to rebels.
South Sudan has the rebel SPLM/A. If South Sudan gives executive powers to the rebels, it will be the bad precedence in the history. Today President Kiir will give executive powers or presidency to Riek , because Riek is killing people , tomorrow another person will wake up and start shooting , killing people , on the reason that he does not want Riek , Riek will give executive powers to him , then another person will rise against that person and the system of REWARDING POLITICIANS for KILLING with political power continues . Therefore South Sudan will be chaotic forever. For this reason South Sudan will not give executive powers to rebels.
International Community and IGAD should not create the doctrine of precedence of rewarding for killing, they should not reward the politicians with political power for killing of people, Dr Riek should not be rewarded for political violence he should be accommodated only. International Community should stop threatening South Sudan with sanctions and IGAD should stop threatening South Sudan with implementation of the sanctions , because sanction is not the solution, the ultimate aim of sanction is to removed Kiir and his allies from Juba and bring Riek Machar and his allies who are in the bush to Juba . If Riek come to Juba, those in Juba will go to the bush and wage war against Riek as what Riek is doing now . Where is the solution therein?.
Here is the solution, first, IGAD and the International Community should allow President Kiir as the executive president of the Republic for the Interim period and Dr Riek be accommodated as the Prime Minister, who is the head of government business, Dr Riek must be in the Interim Government because if he is not in the government he will get bankrupt. Second, the constitution must give the president two terms in the office. Therefore, President Kiir started in 2011 and he is legible for another term. He MUST peacefully transfer the power in 2020 to another, elected President, not the negotiated president as IGAD is pushing for. Not military junta president as rebels were pushing for.