The Minority Leader in South Sudan’s parliament Onyoti Adigo Nyikuac says the ongoing political process to reunify the fragmented Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) will never bring about peace in South Sudan.

The SPLM-Former Detainees faction led by Pagan Amum has recently rejoined the government of President Salva Kiir in Juba and called on the SPLM-IO to lay down their arms.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the minority leader and SPLM-DC deputy chairman noted that there are parties involved in the ongoing conflict that are not members of the SPLM party, referring to General Johnson Olony who rebelled against the government recently in Upper Nile state.

Adigo further said that bringing an end to the conflict needs a negotiated comprehensive peace deal.

9 July celebration

Meanwhile, the opposition leader criticized South Sudan's cabinet for releasing an amount of 27 million pounds to hold a celebration for the country's independence on the 9 July anniversary this year.

In April, Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny announced that a budget amounting to 27 million South Sudanese pounds was approved to cover the independence celebration in July, though he clarified that most of this money was for refurbishment of the John Garang Mausoleum.

The SPLM-DC deputy chairman described the cabinet’s move to bypass the parliament in approving the money as a “violation of the constitution”.

“Such amounts should have not been released for a celebration while citizens are starving across the country. Citizens are now eating leaves while the government approves 27 million pounds for a one-day celebration,” he said.

Salva Kiir’s government yesterday announced that the independence celebration on 9 July anniversary this year is on schedule as planned.