Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), have vowed to continue with the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement despites the arrest of their chairperson Dr. Riek Machar.
On Friday Government confirmed that Dr. Machar was placed under house arrest over the recent conflict in Nasir as well as armed confrontations in other parts of the country including Juba.
Although Dr. Machar caused panic as other fear that it may bring the agreement to collapsed, some of the cabinet Ministers as well as SPLM-IO prominent politicians reiterated commitment to continue with the implementation.
Has said it remains committed to implementing the 2018 revitalized peace agreement despite the detention of several senior party officials.
While addressing Journalists on Friday, Stephen Par Kuol, a member of the SPLM-IO political bureau and minister of peacebuilding in the transitional unity government, said the opposition will continue participating in key security mechanisms outlined in the peace agreement.
“We urge all signatory parties and stakeholders to recommit themselves to the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in both letter and spirit,” Kuol said
Kuol called for calm, assuring both local civilians and the international community that dialogue is underway among the parties to resolve the political crisis amicably.
Kuol called for Machar’s immediate release and urged regional blocs to facilitate dialogue between Kiir and Machar.
“One of the reasons we are calling for calm is to restore peace of mind. The government has assured us that those of us in Juba are safe. As for those who have fled, joined other factions, or are calling for war, we have distanced ourselves from such statements,” Kuol said.
Machar was placed under house arrest on Wednesday night after an armed convoy led by top security officials, including the defense minister, entered his residence in Juba and disarmed his bodyguards. The standoff has raised concerns that South Sudan could slide back into conflict more than six years after emerging from a civil war that left thousands dead and displaced millions.
