The Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders, a group of influential Dinka politicians who advise President Kiir on political matters, has charged holdout rebels of holding the country hostage for their partisan interests.
Ambrose Riiny Thiik, the former chief justice and now chairman of the Dinka Council of Elders, said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj today that the holdout opposition groups are holding the country hostage because they don’t want be part of the peace process.
“What is happening now is not politics anymore. Politics as I know is about placing the interest of the people first. But now there are individuals who have placed their interests above and over the common interest of the country,” he said.
“They see themselves more important than the country and the people. These are the people holding the country hostage. They do not want the elections to be held and they do not want to join the peace process,” he added.
The elderly politician pointed out that the country needs peace and unity among all communities. “The country is at a crossroads and the situation has reached a critical stage where a unity of purpose needs to be forged. There is a need for unity of purpose. It is time to put aside all these political differences and work for peace and unity,” he said.