SPLM-In-Opposition is holding an urgent conference today in order to endorse the peace agreement and discuss the transfer of their political programs to Juba, according to a senior rebel official.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, the SPLM-IO head of peace implementation and monitoring committee Dhieu Mathok stated that a one-day conference with participation of about 2,000 opposition members would take place today in Pagak, Monday.
Dhieu Mathok also said they received a letter officially from Salva Kiir’s government that said the government are not ready to receive the SPLM-IO advance team in preparation to start the implementation of the signed peace agreement.
“We have received a letter from the Juba government, the letter says that the government is not ready to receive the movement’s advance team before 26 November,” he said.
The opposition group had resolved to send as many as 500 of its members as an advance team to Juba in preparation for the reception of their leader Riek Machar who is due to return to take up his position as first vice president in accordance with the new peace agreement.
The rebel official also ruled out reports about the participation of the opposition leader Riek Machar in an IGAD heads of state summit slated to be convened on 19 November in Juba.
“This thing will never happen, if the advance team had arrived in Juba on 15 November as planned, we would have consulted ourselves on who should represent the opposition in that meeting,” he said. “So, as long as the opposition team has not yet arrived in Juba, this means, the opposition will not take part in the summit,” he added.
South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek previously said that they expect to receive SPLM-IO Chairman Riek Machar in the company of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. He mentioned that other IGAD heads of state including those of Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan.