Kiir not ready for elections, reluctant to implement peace deal — Machar ally

JUBA — A senior member of South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has accused President Kiir’s group of being reluctant to implement the revitalized peace agreement, accusing him of undermining the upcoming 2023 elections.

Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC), said in a statement that the regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the revitalized peace agreement should pressure Kiir’s SPLM faction to demonstrate political will to implement the 2018 peace agreement.

“The IGAD should put more pressure on the key partner (former ITGONU) to the agreement to demonstrate political will for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” Majokdit who is an outspoken opposition official said in a brief statement extended to Sudans Post.

“The ITGONU leadership is buying time as tactical delay to frustrate the process of the implementation to extend the transitional period,” he added.

The senior opposition official further stressed that none of the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement’s chapter two, which deals with the security arrangements, has been implemented and said that makes it difficult for elections to be conducted as planned.

“As we speak no single provisions in the agreement has been implemented on the security arrangements, no permanent constitution in the country refugees and internal displaced persons are not repatriated and resettled, census is not done,” he said.

“How do you expect elections when the SPLM is reluctant to implement the peace agreement?” He asked.