A cross-section of members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has called upon President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to lead the process of healing and reconciliation in South Sudan.
The lawmakers made the call during an ordinary sitting chaired by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba in Juba on Wednesday.
Kiir and Dr. Machar have had an acrimonious relationship since they fell out after the former fired the entire cabinet in July 2013. Things later came to a head in December 2013 when there was a disagreement at the meeting of the meeting of SPLM Party’s top organ in December 2013.
The internal party matter flared into military confrontations in Juba which culminated in a pogrom against the Nuer people in Juba and Dr. Machar and some of his loyalists fleeing the city. They later formed the SPLM-SPLA-IO rebel group which waged war against Kiir. The conflict fragmented South Sudanese along ethnic and political lines and even after two peace agreements, Kiir and Machar have never really reconciled in the eyes of the citizens and operate like adversaries.
Farouk Gatkouth Kam, the SPLM-IO Chief Whip, stressed the need for President Kiir and Dr. Machar to walk hand in hand in spearheading the reconciliation and healing process in the country whose social fabric and cohesion has been obliterated by conflict since war erupted in December 2013.
“If we are talking peace, we want to see Salva Kiir and Riek Machar walking hand in hand, together in South Sudan because I think peace is not necessarily the silence of the guns and the cries of war,” he urged. “Peace should be the strong ground for reconciliation, peace and other aspects. So, let us get peace, let us give peace a chance.”
For his part, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the First Deputy Speaker of TNLA, concurred and said both Kiir and Dr. Machar should lead the way for South Sudan’s reconciliation and healing.
“These processes are multifaceted and I agree with those who say the leadership of this country, beginning with the president, the first vice president, the vice presidents, and those in the Council of Ministers are the ones heading the executive and they originate policies. They also implement policies,” he stated. “They should lead the way for South Sudan, where they want to take the country. For us in the legislature, equally, we have responsibilities.”
Oyet said without peace, the country will never move forward.
“As leaders of this country, it is our responsibility to unite our country, to stabilize the Republic of South Sudan, to put it on a track for democracy and prosperity,” he stated. “Without peace, this country will never move forward. Nobody will even rule it without peace. And the basis of peace is truth, reconciliation, and healing.”
Meanwhile, Peter Lomude Francis, a South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) MP representing Yei River County in the TNLA, said those who committed crimes during the 2013 and 2016 conflict should be held accountable for the country to realize genuine healing and reconciliation.
“I agree with those who have said it is important that the element of accountability should be upheld if you are to realize genuine healing and reconciliation among our people,” he emphasized. “Yes, people must forgive, but there are certain crimes that are beyond forgiveness. So, some people have to be held accountable for some of their actions.”
Lomude appealed to parliament to push the African Union to establish the Hybrid Court that would address issues of injustice.
“I support this and I think it is important that this House should also call for the bill to do with the establishment of the Hybrid Court,” he stated.
The legislators were discussing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Bill 2024 and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Bill 2024 which they passed to the third reading.