South Sudan’s government insists that it will extend its mandate should the peace talks with the rebels fail, despite the US administration’s pressure to drop the effort.
Martin Elia Lomuro, South Sudan’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs, told Radio Tamazuj in an interview today that the government has decided to extend its mandate through the legislature should the peace forum in Ethiopia not yield a solution to the ongoing civil war.
“You cannot govern a country without legitimacy. We will extend the mandate because the country cannot be run without a constitution and legitimacy through the parliament,” Lomuro said.
“The United States wants this government to exist without legitimacy. We will continue discussing it,” he added.
Lomuro, who is also the acting minister of foreign affairs, criticized the United States government for objecting to the recent promotion and appointment of the country’s new army chief, Gabriel Jok Riak.
“You cannot accuse someone and issue a sentence without taking him to a competent court first. Jok has never been taken to court and found guilty. We have the right to serve our government as South Sudanese,” he said.
Lomuro reiterated his government’s commitment to the peace process to restore peace and stability in South Sudan, urging the international community to put pressure on the opposition to make concessions for the sake of peace.
The top government official said his government is inclusive and credible. “We have John Luk who is now representing FDs in the government as transport minister, and we have Madut Biar as well two others in the parliament. Deng Alor left the government alone but his position is there,” he said.
“Nobody expelled those people. They left the government because they have their own political agenda which is not clear to us,” he added.
The cabinet minister said the decision to exile the country’s main opposition leader Riek Machar was taken by regional leaders in order to keep him away in the hope of preventing conflict in the world's youngest nation.
The Trump administration on Tuesday said it was giving up on the government of South Sudan, pointing out that the current government led by President Salva Kiir has lost credibility.
“The Government of South Sudan has lost credibility, and the United States is losing patience,” the White House said.