Information Minister Michael Makuei has appealed to the Government of the United States of America to review its decision to suspend funding to the security mechanisms of the revitalized peace agreement.
Last Friday, the United States Department of State announced that they had decided to end assistance for peace process monitoring mechanisms in South Sudan, effective July 15, as it assesses the next steps.
“The United States laments the failure of South Sudanese leaders to implement the commitments they have made to bring peace to South Sudan and has consequently decided to end U.S. assistance for peace process monitoring mechanisms, effective July 15, as we assess next steps,” the press release read in part.
During an exclusive interview with Radio Tamazuj, Information Minister Michael Makuei said the decision by the U.S. government to suspend funding to the peace mechanisms was unfortunate.
“It is unfortunate and we are not happy with the decision of the Americans. It is unfortunate because we are approaching the end of the transitional period and the last part of implementing the agreement and it is unfortunate for them to withdraw,” he said. “Their support for the RJMEC and the other mechanisms was not complete. It was discriminatory because they were only supporting internationals, excluding the nationals.”
“We are asking America to review its decision because it is not correct and is a setback,” he added.
Makuei said the suspension of funding by the U.S government implies that the latter is not happy with the implementation of the peace agreement and is a setback.
“They want to return us to zero. We appeal to America to continue funding the mechanisms but if they do not want, we will ask other friendly countries to come and fill the void left by America,” he said. “Also, it is important to qualify that the Americans did not say they are stopping but they said they are suspending funding and we are requesting them to reconsider.”
On the recently developed roadmap for the end of the transitional period which was handed to President Salva Kiir, Makuei said it was a draft.
“People have not tried to find out exactly what happened. What we have presented to the president is a proposal, a draft. It is an initiative from us. Who in the opposition has come up with a proposal?” he asked. “We gave the proposal to the president who will then call the vice presidents and share it with them. The parties to the agreement and other stakeholders will sit and everybody will have an opinion on the roadmap before it becomes final.”
He said the people of South Sudan will decide on the final roadmap.
“We have discussed it and it is up to the people of South Sudan to discuss, amend, reject or substitute it. It is up to them,” Makuei said. “Everything starts with an idea. Will the roadmap come from the sky? People will discuss it. What have those people in the opposition who are talking done?”
“The problem is that people keep quiet and when you take an initiative, people question why,” he scolded.
Regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) South Sudan signed with Egypt to dredge the tributaries of the Nile, Makuei said it was a normal thing and will not be operationalized as it is.
“We have a memorandum of understanding with Egypt just like with other countries and it was signed by Vice President James Wani Igga. MoUs are normal things that you sign with anybody and this does not mean that they will be operationalized as it is. So we have an MoU with Egypt which has not yet been operationalized,” he said.