SPLM-IO youth & students’ league in Kenya pledges allegiance to Taban; call upon Riek Machar to retire from politics
More than 200 SPLM-IO Youth and students’ league in Kenya pledges allegiance to 1st VP Taban Deng Gai, and urges Riek Machar to retire from politics
By Emmanuel Malual Makuach, Nairobi, Kenya
October 2, 2016 (SSB) —- More than 200 members of SPLM-IO Students League from the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by Riek Machar, have declared their allegiance to the first vice President Gen. Taban Deng Gai, and called on Riek Machar to retire from politics in order to give peace a chance in South Sudan. The students held a press conference in Nairobi Kenya to announce their defection to the Government under leadership of two principles.
Speaking to journalists in Nairobi, the Chairman of SPLM-IO Students League who doubled as Leader of Nuer Students Union in Kenya, Akim Gatkek says they have decided to join the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit
‘‘We have been under the leadership of Riek Machar all this time, but today we have shifted our allegiance to Gen. Taban Deng Gai, because of the spirit of peace he is putting in the country to united the people of south Sudan as whole , the statement reads in part’’.
The SPLM-IO student’s leader appreciates President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the first vice President Taban Deng Gai for working collectively to restore peace and stability in the country.
‘‘We appreciate President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the first vice president Taban Deng Gai for the good working relationship between them. South Sudanese are tired of war, we want our country to go back to peace, Akim stated’’. We support Gen. Taban because of his commitment to bringing peace to our beloved country South Sudan in his capacity as first vice president.
The IO students’ league further urges those preaching war rhetorics in South Sudan to stop the message of war, but rather join the peace process in the country under the current leadership of the country.
Message to Riek Machar
The students who have now abandoned Riek Machar faction further called on him to retire from politics and join the many South Sudanese who are yearning for peace in the country.
‘‘Still without the presence of Machar, South Sudanese can choose what to do for themselves. It is not Machar who can bring peace, and it is not Machar who is fighting the war. As for those who have been fighting the war, we have now said the war is over. There is no authority for Machar to say he is going to fight again, let him fight his war alone, the students declared’’.
The SPLM-IO students League Chapter in Kenya, says it had already sent a message to Gen. Taban Deng Gai early last month affirming their support to his leadership.
‘‘All the SPLM-IO students in Nairobi send this message to South Sudanese and the world that we support our leader in Opposition Gen. Taban Deng Gai for the spirit of peace and commitment he has for the country, said Akim who spoke on behalf of the IO students’’.
‘‘Another member Nyakume Lual, echoed that everybody is tired of war, adding that enough is enough. It is the youth who are dying and the politicians are enjoying, so we are in for peace. We need South Sudanese to embrace each other and live in peace and harmony as people of one country’’.
The SPLM-IO students League office chapter in Kenya is now closed as all the members have shifted allegiance to the First Vice President Gen. Taban Deng Gai and the government.
Mr. Machar returned to Juba in April to take up the post of vice-president, but President Salva Kiir dismissed him in the wake of the July violence and replaced him with Taban Deng Gai, a former opposition Chief Negotiator who broke ranks with Machar.
Riek Machar is now in Khartoum where he and his faction have declared war on the government.
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