First Vice President’s group rejects president Kiir’s decree on unification of forces

By Simon Deng and Editorial Team,
SPLM/A-IO has rejected president Salva Kiir’s “Presidential decrees on the Unifications of forces” issued on Friday this week
“The SPLMA/IO condemns and rejects the unilateral decision.” Reads part of the press statement issued on Saturday and seen by Juba Echo.
President Kiir’s decree was announced on state owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation or SSBC, It’s as follows…
1. Deputy Chief of Defense Forces,(DCDF) alloted to SPLA- IO
2. A/ CDF for Moral Orientation to SPLA-IO
3. A/CDF position of Inspection to SPLA-IO
South Sudan National police:
1. Deputy IGP position has been given to SPLA-IO
2. A/ IGP one position has been given to SSOA
The opposition group led by first Vice President Riek Machar allege that president Kiir’s decree is a rejection of the on-going mediation process by Sudan’s government on the unification of forces.
Mr. Machar says the peace deal provides for sharing of the command at the ratio of 1.1 or 50 percent for president Salva Kiir’s group and 50 present to opposition groups.
The opposition group says Sudan’s government is currently trying to find a solution to the disagreement of the unification of forces and that it’s fully committed to that process.
SPLM/A-IO further says it’s committed to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and is urging the East African Regional body IGAD to intervene and resolve the deteriorating working relationship between the parties to the peace accord.
A civil society group member, Edmund Yekani who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation is calling on president Salva Kiir to call for a meeting of the presidency to try and resolve the differences.
“Presidency is a mechanism of the peace agreement and president Salva Kiir should use it to sit with his five vice and resolve these problems.” Said Yekani.