The ‘Liberation Council’ of South Sudanese rebel group SPLM/A-IO will convene a meeting at its Pagak headquarters to select an advance team that will travel to South Sudan’s capital Juba in late October, a rebel official said.
“According to the directives of Dr. Riek Machar, now we are preparing for a meeting in Pagak, there will be a meeting of the National Liberation Council from 21 to 24 to select the advance team going to Juba,” said SPLM-IO deputy head of information Manawa Peter Gatkuoth.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Manawa further said the advance team will likely be headed by former Unity State Governor Taban Deng Gai.
He pointed out that the council will also discuss the latest decision taken by President Salva Kiir establishing 28 states in South Sudan and its implications on the peace agreement. The rebel spokesman underscored that the decision taken by President Kiir violates terms and spirit of the signed peace agreement.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth says his government will still stick to its decision to divide South Sudan administratively into 28 states. He downplayed voices that oppose the decision especially the armed opposition and international community.
He told Radio Tamazuj that South Sudan is a sovereign state and it is free to issue its own decisions, referring to the objection by the Troika and other countries to the decision taken by President Kiir.
The government spokesman denied claims that President Kiir’s decision violates the terms and the spirit of the agreement signed with the rebels in August. He said the added states will create more governorships for the rebels rather than less.
“I see that the rebels will have more opportunities,” he said. “It will solve the problem of positions, and it will give them opportunities in the other states because they will have 15% in all states,” he added.
File photo: Riek Machar