The Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP), an umbrella group of parties, has faulted the Sudan People Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) for abrogating the 2028 peace agreement.
In an interview, COOP Chairperson Ghai Chol urged the SPLM-IO to cease initiatives that abrogate 2018 peace.
“Regarding the abrogation of R-ARCSS, it is evident that the agreement has been violated by Salva Kiir and his supporters” Chol said.
Dr. Chol reiterated that the suspension of postholders from Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition as well house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar with some of his member under detention threaten the peace agreement.
On his part Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services, who also serves as the government spokesperson has been pointing figures on SPLM/A-IO for violating the 2018 peace agreement.
Addressing Journalists in March, Minister Makuei who is a senior member of SPLM-IG reiterated the group commitment toward peace in South Sudan.
“All these activities seem to be taking people back to war, we are not taking people back to war,” Makuei said.
“Our president (Salva Kiir) has committed himself several times once and every time that he will not take you back to war, so we are not taking anybody to war,” he added.
Minister Makuei acknowledged the happening citing that theare normal ups and downs in the implementation of any agreement.
Makuei media address followed the arrest of SPLM/A-IO senior members in Juba over the clashes in Nasir County of Upper Nile between government forces and SPLM/A-IO backed White Army.
Dr. Chol appealed to SPLM-IG to rescue the peace agreement from collapsing.
The COOP leader called on the peace guarantors as well as other stakeholders to intervene in South Sudan to prevent further violations.
Dr. Chol expressed that the armed confrontation between the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in some part of the country subjected the citizens to suffering and has to stop.
“The armed confrontation between SPLA-IO and the SSPDF in some part of the country is subjecting people to suffering and well as taking countries money and we are for peace it has to stop immediately” he said
He urged the political leaders in Juba and outside Juba to cease media war that incite violent adding that the citizens become engage in a war that they do not know.
Dr. Chol Stated that the political parties in South Sudan would continue to appeal to the parties to the peace agreement to ensure that the 2018 peace agreement is protected from completely collapsed.
Last month the embassies of the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Delegation of the European Union expressed concern over the detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
“We call on President Kiir to reverse this action and to prevent further escalation,” the embassies’ statement reads.
“We further call on President Kiir and all leaders with control or influence over armed groups to order an immediate ceasefire.” It read.
The statement emphasizes the urgent need for leaders of all parties to engage in direct dialogue without delay and to demonstrate the sincerity of their commitment to peace.
Civil society and women’s groups, IGAD and the African Union have also called for restraint, dialogue, the release of Machar from detention, and the upholding of the 2018 peace agreement.
