A row has erupted between senior leaders of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) after a meeting with President Salva Kiir in Juba on Wednesday.
SSOA is a coalition of eight parties which are signatory to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
On Wednesday, Kiir discussed with a section of SSOA leaders matters said they had tackled the Kenya-led Tumaini peace talks and the democratic transition.
Pictures posted online indicated an absence of some SSOA leaders such as Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi and Minister for Higher Education Gabriel Changson Chang.
Shortly after the meeting, rumors circulated that it had discussed replacing Abdelbagi and Chang, who are representing the coalition in the transitional government. A lawmaker and member of the coalition, Stephen Lual, refuted the claims.
However, SSOA leader Josephine Lagu Yanga issued a statement Friday saying: “The leadership of SSOA is concerned about a statement posted by Eye Radio, reported to have been released by Hon. Stephen Lual concerning the meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, on behalf of SSOA as the Alliance official spokesperson.”
Yanga, who is also the Minister for Agriculture, described Lual as a member and a spokesperson of SSPM, which is one of constituent members of SSOA.
“He is not the official spokesperson of SSOA and not authorized to speak for and on behalf of SSOA in an official capacity,” she said.
“The public, the media and all stakeholders who wish to acquire official information concerning SSOA are asked to contact the chairperson, who remains Josephine Lagu Yanga, or Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, the Secretary General, or any chairperson of the SSOA constituent parties,” she said.
“Stephen Lual is asked to stick to his party role and is cautioned against misrepresentation of facts, and illegal issuance of statements on behalf of SSOA,” she stressed.
Stephen Lual Nngor responded to the statement and said: “First of all, I would like you not to drag me into the debate of the legitimacy of SSOA leaders because if we are to address this question, the seat of the chairperson-ship should have been subjected to elections after six months.”
“Since we decided to allow things to go loose due to the prevailing circumstances, we don’t see it logical for the Honorable Minister and a leader of one of SSOA parties to talk about what position is legitimate or not.”
“Secondly, since you are refuting the response dispelling the allegation about the discussion between the SSOA leaders and the President, are you confirming that what was circulating in the media is correct? That you went to discuss the change of SSOA leaders who were not present in the meeting.”
“My only interest was to calm the situation but if there are issues, then let us use the alliance’s channels or else the outcome will be undesirable,” he concluded.