General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, deputy chief of staff for training of the SPLA-In Opposition, said Monday that reconciliation is the only viable option to unite the people of South Sudan.
“We are saying in the movement that there is nothing more important than peace. We are saying, unity, unity, and reconciliation is the only viable option left to bring the country back and make our people focus on rebuilding their lives,” Dau said when aksed about the post-war programs of his group.
Dau, the highest ranking Dinka general in the armed opposition, led rebels in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states during the civil war.
The general said he met first vice president and SPLA-IO commander in chief Riek Machar soon after the new cabinet were appointed to congratulate Machar and to listen and hear from him what was next.
Dau did not receive a ministerial assignment in the transitional government’s cabinet despite his supporters having lobbied first vice president Riek Machar to give him such a position.
“I have never been a complainant. I take the assignment as when it is decided as it is what I should do. I never went to the chairman and asked him to give me a ministerial assignment,” he said.
“Yes, people have asked the chairman and that was their right. If the chairman did not act on their wish, then it should not be a cause of concern. Some other opportunities will come,” Dau added.
“What is important to me is to serve the people of South Sudan and for the movement to remain united so that we are able to achieve the objective for which the peace was signed,” he said. “Our people need services. They need to be united and reconciled. These are the programs which we have drawn up in the leadership meeting in Pagak and we should now implement them.”