No military solution to South Sudan’s problem-president Kiir

By Tapeng Michael Ohure
South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit says his government is committed to cooperating with all peace partners to implement the 2018 accord.

“I have come before you today to affirm my government’s commitment to peace in our country. In many of my public remarks I have pledged that I will not deliberately return this country to war and I will remain committed to this pledge.” President Salva Kiir told reporters in Juba on Monday.

Disagreement between president Salva Kiir and his vice president Riek Machar who heads the biggest opposition group in the country led to clashes last week in the northern part of the country and over the weekend, there was heavy military deployment in the capital Juba.
Mr. Machar says his house was surrounded by soldiers on Sunday but that the troops left on Monday morning.

President Kiir says the deployment is a security measure done across the city.

President Kiir admits that there is disagreement between his group and that of opposition leader Riek Machar.

He says the differences is on how to unify the former rival armies.

President Kiir says he is hoping that the stalemate can be resolved through dialogue.

“I am assuring you that the implementation of the Revitalized peace agreement is on track. We all consider this agreement as a path to our stability and I am committed to working with our partners to implement it.” Said president Kiir.

Riek Machar’s group has pulled out of the ceasefire monitoring body.

It accuses the soldiers loyal to president Kiir of attacking its forces.

President Kiir is calling on Mr. Machar’s group to return to the peace monitoring body.

“There are challenges, but we need to confront them as a people along with our peace partners to maintain total peace and bring prosperity to our people,” he added.

President Kiir says the peace agreement can only be implemented through dialogue whenever challenges emerge.

Mr. Machar is calling on the East African Regional Body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD which mediated the peace deal to intervene to resolve the current disagreement.