Lou Nuer Community in Uganda Welcomes the Return of the SPLA/M Commander in Chief and Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Simon Gatwech Dual to Juba
May 2, 2016 (SSB) — It is with sincere gratitude that the leadership of Lou Nuer community in Uganda feels honor bound to welcome the return of Dr. Riek Machar and Gen. Gatwech Dual to the national capital of South Sudan, Juba. The Lou Nuer in Uganda commend the toughest decision of the Commander in Chief (C-in-C) and the Chief of General Staff (CoGS) to return to Juba, a move which tentatively serves as a token of honor for the peace agreement that the two rival leaders signed in August, 2015.
In another expression, the leadership felicitates Dr. Riek Machar on taking up his new assignment as the first Vice President (FVP). Record has it that he emerges the first most powerful Vice President (VP) in the history of Africa besides being instrumental for initiating the idea of self-determination which led to secession of South Sudan from the Sudan and longing for the resisted total reform. In view of your new role in the transitional government, the Lou Nuer community in Uganda wish you well as you serve for the next thirty months granted by the peace agreement.
The leadership of Lou Nuer equally congratulates their three sons and leaders: Hon. John Luk Jok, Hon. Hussein Mar Nyot and Hon. Riek Gai Kok on having been entrusted by their different political entities to serve as ministers in the newly formed Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). It is therefore, our high anticipation that the three of you long-sightedly look back and ably recall the fact that Lou Nuer hardly witnessed any development from the onset of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Lou Nuer community has been a long-suffering community in the history of South Sudan. Now is the right time you ought to realize that their basic needs are catered for. That elucidates your appreciation to this great community that you belong to. We love the fact that you are all competence and that you can do better what a son or a daughter of another community can do. Lou Nuer wish you well in your new assignments.
The Lou Nuer are quite grateful to President Salva Kiir and FVP, Dr. Riek Machar for their commendable commitment to the full execution of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). Noting your willingness to accord a sustainable peace to concerned South Sudanese, the leadership of Lou Nuer urges President Kiir and FVP Dr. Riek to continue cooperating so as to achieve the objectives of the peace agreement. This mighty community wholeheartedly wishes to see to it that both the President and the FVP initiate national healing and reconciliation so that the South Sudanese communities fueled with deep ethnic hatred restore love, unity and solidarity. Your focus should be on how to provide basic services to the people of South Sudan and not how to politically outwit one another.
The Lou Nuer community in Uganda deeply acknowledges the long-standing role of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Africans Union (AU), United Nations (UN), TROIKA, Europeans Union (EU) and other international communities in supporting the resolution of South Sudan conflict. It is our hope that your continued support carries on so that our sustainable peace urge and the subsequent development catches our realization.
Our strongest appreciation goes to Lou Nuer in their entirety for the undying defense of the would-be annihilated children and elderly people, and the detriment to their properties from the SPLA – IG. Your solid stand and unity on the ground withstood all forms of intended outrageous military assaults which could leave indelible damages in our community.
The leadership of Lou Nuer in Uganda urges the entire Lou Nuer both in diaspora and in South Sudan to exhibit their instant full support to the peace accord. Our usual role in maintaining peace with our immediate neighbors and across the country should not be foregone. It should constantly hold because it signifies our core values and the spirit of love for our friends and enemies.
Besides, our peace message does not isolate the entire South Sudanese communities. It is our call that all South Sudanese back up the peace pact. That enables us to restore our love for one another and peaceful coexistence.
Ultimately, the leadership of Lou Nuer community in Uganda strongly urge President Kiir and FVP Dr. Riek to respect the contents of the peace agreement. The two leaders should put in their mind that they are working a transitional government guided by the document they signed. All activities of the transitional period should be consistent with the content of the peace document in order to attain the ARCSS objectives and coexist a mutual understanding. Observing the ARCSS rules out any flashpoint of the disagreement.
May the Holy Trinity abundantly pour His blessing on the people of South Sudan.
Viva Lou Nuer,
Viva South Sudan