Taban Deng Gai arrived on Sunday to Sudanese capital Khartoum accompanied by senior government officials, a move that has been denounced by members of the SPLM-IO.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Peter Adwak Nyaba, ousted minister of education and member of SPLM-IO expressed his astonishment at Khartoum for receiving the newly appointed Taban Deng, pointing that Sudan has participated in the IGAD summit on South Sudan and the resolutions that calls for resignation of Taban and the return of Riek Machar to Juba as first vice president after sending in regional troops to the country.
Taban Deng was appointed First Vice President of South Sudan in late July in a move that has been disputed by supporters of Riek Machar.
“Sudan and all IGAD member states must respect the peace agreement because they all agreed during the IGAD ministerial meeting that Taban Deng Gai must step down for Riek Machar. Sudan must not receive Taban Deng as the first vice president,” said Nyaba.
Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal al Dein Ismail said the first vice president is on an official visit to Khartoum for talks with the top officials on bilateral and regional issues, and said that Sudan will not have any say over who is the next First Vice President.
“As we receive him we also reiterated our solid stance toward IGAD resolutions and the importance of solving the South’s problem by negotiation with all parties,” he added.