JUBA - 25 Jul 2016

JMEC says it's "not here to speculate" on Taban Deng nomination

The Joint Monitoring Evaluation Comission, an organization responsible for monitoring and implementing South Sudan's peace deal says that is has no opinion about the nomination of Taban Deng as First Vice President of South Sudan.

"A change to the leadership depends on the Opposition itself and we are not here to speculate on such changes" JMEC said in a statement. "We do not see any value in speculating when the people and friends of South Sudan are working hard to ensure a return to the implementation of the Peace Agreement"

On Saturday, a group of officials from the SPLM-IO nomintaed Deng as the acting First Vice President of South Sudan. They claim that because Machar is not in Juba, someone needs to implement the peace deal

A spokesperson for Machar has rejected the nomination of Deng, insisting that it is an illegal process.