South Sudan's former deputy defense minister turned critic of Kiir’s government, Majak D'Agoot, said President Kiir and his deputy Taban Deng are conspiring against the Arusha reunification agreement.
The accord was signed on 21 January 2015 under the auspices of the Chama Cha Manpinduzi, Tanzania’s governing party and attempts to reunify three SPLM factions through a conflict resolution mechanism.
The 12-page Arusha agreement signed by SPLM led Salva Kiir, SPLM-IO led Riek Machar and SPLM-FDs led Pagan Amum, lays out key steps towards the reunification of the historical party.
Majak, who is a leading member of the former detainees’ group, said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj that President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Taban Deng, who is leading a breakaway group of the main opposition movement led by Riek Machar, have secluded them from the reunification process.
“I believe that there is some kind of conspiracy between the SPLM group in the government and the group led by Taban. The reunification is now between them only while excluding the former detainees and the faction led by Dr. Riek Machar which is the main faction of SPLM-IO,” Majak said.
“The first step for reunification of the SPLM party should have started between the two groups led by Taban and Dr. Riek Machar, because all of us are still committed to the key steps of the Arusha reunification agreement,” he added.
The South Sudanese politician pointed out that his group will not be part of the SPLM National Liberation Council called for by President Salva Kiir in Juba, citing weak ties with the SPLM faction loyal to President Salva Kiir.
Majak lashed out at Kiir over his recent regret for saving the lives of former detainees and his former deputy Riek Machar in Juba in 2013 and 2016.
“Even if we are invited to attend the upcoming meeting, there is a very important ethical principle here, President Salva Kiir said publicly that he regrets not killing us in detention,” he said.
“Kiir also regretted not killing Dr. Riek Machar, so where is the basic common link between the groups in terms of trust if the president is talking about killing of leaders such as Dr. Riek Machar and former detainees? And he is talking about the reunification of the party,” he added.
“We have no objection to the ongoing reunification between Kiir and Taban Deng.”