SPLM Secretary-General and leader of the erstwhile SPLM-G10 Former Detainees faction Pagan Amum claims that efforts exerted by the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to push for internal reconciliation within the SPLM party in South Sudan have resulted in a breakthrough.
The SPLM Former Detaines, also known as the G10, have recently declared that they recognize Salva Kiir as the chairman of the country’s ruling party. Before the start of the civil war members of the group had challenged President Kiir in a press conference criticizing his leadership style.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Pagan said the ongoing political process backed by Kenya could bring about peace in South Sudan. He predicted that the warring parties could reach a final peace deal before 9 July.
The leading SPLM member pointed out that four contentious issues were agreed upon during their meetings: “Percentages of power-sharing, federalism, compensation of victims of war and the mechanism of decision-making in council of ministers were all overcome.”
The SPLM-G10 leader didn’t give more details whether they amended some points in the recent IGAD proposal or not.
He added that the parties involved reached a general political understanding, saying the warring parties would submit their comments to the Kenyan President in preparation to present them to the IGAD mediation.
He confirmed that meetings of the tripartite committee that aimed at reunifying South Sudan’s fragmented ruling party SPLM through inter-factional dialogue have also kicked off in Arusha, Tanzania.
File photo: Pagan Amum with Uhuru Kenyatta