The spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has welcomed the South Sudanese government’s declaration of ceasefire, urging his fellow citizens to build more momentum for peace.
SPLM-IO is the rebel group headed by former vice president Riek Machar, who just signed a peace agreement with the South Sudanese government on 17 August. The decision commits him to participating in a new ‘transitional government’.
According to Mabior, head of the public information committee of SPLM-IO, the group is “moving forward with our partners in peace” [i.e., the government and other signatories to the peace agreement] in spite of what he termed “challenges.”
In a post on the social networking site Facebook, Mabior added, “Those who are for peace on either side should be vigilant against the enemies of peace on either side…and not lose this momentum of peace.”
Photo: Mabior Garang speaking to the press at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, 8 January 2014 (Radio Tamazuj)