South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Monday replaced Riek Machar with Taban Deng as the First Vice President of South Sudan.
The move follows the decision of a faction of the SPLM-IO to elect Taban Deng to replace First Vice President of South Sudan, although Machar’s spokesperson has called the process illegitimate.
In interviews conducted by Radio Tamazuj, several political observers said the move will definitely complicate peace efforts in South Sudan.
Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), expressed scepticism about the government’s ability and the SPLM-IO in Juba led by the newly appointed First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to move forward in implementation of the peace accord.
According to the leading civil society activist, Mahar is still in charge of the SPLA-IO forces and that Taban Deng’s new assignment as First Vice President shows split in the SPLM-IO faction, which will definitely cause political unrest in South Sudan.
“Militarily it is a challenge because the forces are with Dr. Riek in the bush, so the security arrangement stipulated in the peace agreement will be a challenge “said Yakani.
He further said Taban Deng didn’t say he will step down when Riek Machar returns back to Juba during his swearing in ceremony on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Luka Biong Deng, former Director of the Center for Peace Studies at the University of Juba, said any change in the National Government of National Unity in South Sudan should be based on the law and in the interest of peace in the country.
He explained that the peace agreement says if the position of the First Vice President falls vacant, the SPLM-IO leadership shall nominate a replacement.
The observer pointed out that members of the SPLM-IO faction had to nominate someone unanimously as acting First Vice President until Machar returns back to Juba in order avoid any split in the opposition movement.
“But if the issues became complicated, it will be a setback to the peace agreement, I think the most important part is the unity of the SPLM-IO” said Biong.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro, said President Kiir’s decision removing Riek Machar from his position was legal. He further said the agreement says if the position of the First Vice President falls vacant, the SPLM-IO leadership shall nominate a replacement within 48 hours, saying Machar fled Juba and spent a period of more than seven days.
Lomuro criticized the armed opposition leader Riek Machar, IGAD mediators and the international community for backing the decision taken by the African Union to send a regional force to South Sudan.
The national minister called on the East African regional bloc IGAD to respect South Sudan’s sovereignty. Lomuro reiterated their position to reject deployment of a regional force, claiming the move will not bring about peace and stability in South Sudan.
Abraham Mariak Albino, a South Sudanese political analyst, said the move is a positive development in the political process in South Sudan. However, he said the future of peace implementation is still vague.