Two factions of the opposition umbrella South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have reunited with Denay Jock Chagor, as the new leader.
The two factional heads that closed ranks are Gabriel Changson Chang and Denay Chagor.
The alliance, which comprises of nine opposition entities, was divided over leadership. In November 2018, two organizations supported the election of late General Peter Gatdet for the chairmanship of the alliance but the interim leader Gabriel Changson refused to accept the result of the vote.
The alliance, in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, announced that Mr. Denay Jock Chagor is the chairman of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
The group reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement signed in September last year.
The group revealed that it agreed on rotational leadership of the opposition alliance that starts with SSUM led by Denay Chagor for six months and then FDP movement led by Gabriel Changson takes over for another six months.
It added, “For the distribution of the R-ARCSS positions accruing to SSOA, a committee composed of 9 members representing SSOA member organizations formed to develop objective criteria”.
The alliance applauded South Sudan Council of Church (SSCC) and the Swiss embassy in Juba for their efforts in supporting the reunification process.
Denay Chagor, the new chairman of the opposition alliance, confirmed the reunification process. “It is true that we have reunited…We managed to reconcile and come together, and as a result of that reconciliation, Changson relinquished the leadership to me,” he explained.
Chagor pointed out that the reunification process will boost the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement.
“I believe the reunification of SSOA will boost the implementation of the peace agreement, because it has been difficult when we were divided,” he said.
“Our priority is the implementation of the peace agreement. We will work together with whoever is implementing the agreement,” he added.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other opposition groups signed a peace deal in September 2018, the latest in a string of efforts to end the devastating civil war.
However, the implementation of the peace agreement is facing multiple delays.