A prominent political figure from the Equatoria region, who was appointed as member of the national dialogue committee in late April, has turned down his nomination.
Clement Janda Guya, according to a press release dated May 3, cited five reasons for declining to take part in Kiir’s dialogue committee.
“I Canon Clement Janda Guya wish to let the entire people of South Sudan know that I have no intention whatsoever to participate in the proposed reconstitution of the national dialogue steering committee announced by the president through his republican order no 08/2017 of April 2017 in which my name appeared no 38,” Janda wrote.
The decree of the president, he said, was vague on the governance of the country, expressing fear that it could end up on the desk of President Salva Kiir who will have the final say and decision to make.
“This is totally unacceptable. Any dialogue that does not look critically on the issue of how South Sudan is governed and how the present rulers have drained all national blood and wealth, cannot be considered a serious process,” he said.
He explained that a credible national dialogue could be conducted in an atmosphere of complete freedom, which includes freedom of press to air views of participants without fear and favour.
This atmosphere, he said, does not exist in the country, while emphasizing the importance of giving attention to political processes through a limited number of selected persons with authority on behalf of their communities instead of politicians with different political motives and agenda.