The government of South Sudan has reacted angrily after the former political detainees who are also part of the coalition government in Juba unveiled a proposal advocating for departure of President Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar from South Sudan politics.

SPLM-FDs is a faction made up of senior SPLM party officials who were detained when the conflict began in December 2013. Three members of the group are still serving in transitional administration under President Kiir.

“They are part of the government, so if they have decided to rebel, they are free to rebel,” Michael Makuei Lueth, Information Minister said today.

“When the council of ministers of IGAD came, the SPLM-FDs declined to attend the meeting as part of the TGoNU, so if they are not part of TGoNU they are free to say whatever they want to say, but that’s not the position of the government,” he added.

The former detainees group, in a statement dated 15 October 2017, depicted Kiir and Machar as the main protagonists whose actions are holding the country hostage out of fears of being held accountable for the crimes their forces committed during the current civil war.

“An exit strategy will comprise a package that offers (1) asylum for the two in a willing country or countries, (2) amnesty for specified crimes committed (crimes against humanity, human rights crimes and crime under international humanitarian law) from 15 December, 2013 to the end of the transition or date of the deal, with conditions attached and (3) reasonable financial incentives that assure them of decent living in exile,” partly reads the document.

“To persuade them to give the matter serious thought, this offer must be backed by credible threat of force,” adds the document.