Dr. Lam Akol, Gen. Bapiny welcome Kiir, Machar deal on states

JUBA – Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, the secretary-general of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and the group’s military chief, Lt. General Bapiny Manytuil, have welcomed the agreement on the states reached by President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar on Wednesday.

This comes a day after the chairperson of the Alliance, Josephine Lagu, said in a statement that the opposition consortium rejected the deal which they lamented for giving away Upper Nile states to the SPLM-IO.

In a statement seen by Sudans Post, Dr. Lam Akol and Gen. Bapiny Manytuil said the deal was crucial because – according to them – it will end the ongoing violence in most parts of the country.

“The agreement reached 17 June 2020 by the leaders of SPLM-IG, H.E. President Salva Kiir, and SPLM/A-IO, H.E. First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar on the allocation of Governors of States to the Parties of the Agreement is a right step in the right direction,” the two powerful opposition leaders said in the statement.

“We appreciate the efforts of the two Principals and their decision to break the deadlock between them. This matter has taken four long months to negotiate with a great deal of arguments some of which were really pedantic,” added Dr. Lam Akol and Bapiny Manytuil.

According to Dr. Lam and Gen. Bapiny, the “states were suffering, especially from rising insecurity and the lack of preparedness to combat the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic. All these need a political leadership in the State.”

“This is why we applaud the decision as it will help serve our people. We stand with the said decision and urge that the Governors be appointed as soon as possible for them to go on with the implementation of the peace agreement together with the national government.

“Nevertheless, we call for a face-to-face meeting of all the Parties to the Agreement 30 as to ensure their unanimity on this important step and the way forward.”