December 23, 2024

PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd – South Sudan

"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

IGAD and US State Department join John Kerry in welcoming the “legal” appointment of Taban Deng Ghai

8 years ago PaanLuel Wël

IGAD accepts Riek Machar’s ouster as South Sudan vice president

FRIDAY AUGUST 26 2016, By KEVIN J. KELLEY, New York

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) said on Friday that it is up to the South Sudanese government to decide whether Dr Riek Machar should be reinstated as the country’s first vice president.

That decision would be “naturally accommodated by Igad,” Sharon Kuku, a spokeswoman for the eight-nation grouping of East African states, said in an email message.

Ms Kuku noted that Taban Deng Gai, appointed by President Salva Kiir as Dr Machar’s replacement, had pledged at Igad’s August 5 summit to abide by the South Sudan government’s decision on the first vice presidency.

“Igad did not stop Gen Deng from attending the summit nor speaking for the South Sudan government,” Ms Kuku pointed out.

Friday’s comment by Igad follows the group’s call on August 5 for Machar to be reinstalled as first vice president.

His removal was not consistent with the terms of last year’s peace agreement between South Sudan’s warring parties, Igad said three weeks ago.

In the interim, however, the United States had expressed its acceptance of Machar’s replacement by Mr Deng.

US POSITION

Secretary of State John Kerry said in Nairobi on August 22 that “it’s quite clear that legally, under the agreement, there is allowance for the replacement, in a transition of personnel, and that has been effected with the appointment of a new vice president.”

The US position was reaffirmed on Thursday by State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau.

“The peace agreement contains procedures and requirements that govern transitions and changes within the transitional government,” Ms Trudeau said at a press briefing in Washington.

“Specifically, the agreement provides the top leadership of the armed opposition the power to nominate a new first vice president if that position is vacant.”

A faction of the armed opposition declared last month that it had chosen Mr Deng to replace Machar, who was then in hiding inside South Sudan following bloody clashes in Juba.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir subsequently named Mr Deng as first vice president.

Dr Machar’s followers charged that the moves violated last year’s peace agreement and vowed to oppose Mr Deng’s appointment.

State Department spokeswoman Trudeau on Thursday repeated US calls for an end to armed conflict in South Sudan.

“We do expect the transitional government and all parties, including all leaders of the opposition in South Sudan, to take every step possible to avoid fighting and to reach a peaceful resolution of their differences,” she said.

“The way forward is not through violence or military action but through implementation of the agreement and through peaceful resolution of differences.”

About Post Author

PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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1 thought on “IGAD and US State Department join John Kerry in welcoming the “legal” appointment of Taban Deng Ghai”

  1. Thank you, Secretary John Kerry, for your conscience and realization of a severe suffering of the people of South Sudan under Dr. Riek Machar’s politics. Your consideration of the new vice-president will save South Sudan. New vice-president will act like magnetic force that can bring negative and positive together.

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