Kiir’s Upper Nile conference ‘meant to overthrow’ peace deal ‘dead on arrival’ – top IO official

JUBA – A senior member of South Sudan’s main armed opposition group has slammed the planned Upper Nile state conference, saying the initiative – which aims at bringing together different ethnic groups  of the oil-rich state – is becoming a power theater.

On Monday, SPLM-IO chairman and South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny issued a statement announcing that a conference announced by President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s office over the weekend would take place between December 16 and December 19.

However, in an abrupt change of mind, the prominent opposition leader issued another statement on Tuesday calling off the conference saying “the planned ‘Upper Nile Conference’ scheduled for 16th to 19th December 2020 has been postponed due delays in preparation arrangements. A new date shall be set and it shall be SOUTH communicated to you all.”

In a statement to Sudans Post this morning, former SPLM-IO governor of the defunct Imatong state and SPLM-IO representative to the National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC), Nathaniel Pierino, said the conference which he said is meant to overthrow the agreement is dead upon arrival.

“The so call Upper Nile State conference is dead on arrival. If it’s meant to overthrow the Agreement. The Agreement cannot be overturned in Upper Nile State, it’s not their document. The Conference is turning out to be a power theater marred with overwhelming speculations,” he said.

“The political acrimony surrounding the Upper Nile State Conference has  reached its boiling point. Political leaders in Juba have virtually substituted their communities. They are the leaders and also the community,” he added, asking: “How can they take both roles?”

The senior opposition official said “this so-called process of reconciliation is born dead. It’s highly politicized. Each party should hold their own conference as they wait for the process of Truth, Reconciliation and Healings. So that they can discuss who took what?”

“The king of Chollo remains in exile, I cannot imagine a meaningful reconciliation and healing without involving directly or otherwise the king. Alienating the Chollo kingdom is inherently counterproductive.

“We expect the traditional authorities, landlords and their grassroots to assemble not those who are wielding titles in Juba. They are part of the problem of the grassroots. Some have never remitted proceeds from oil money due to the state and local communities and are not wanted by the grassroots.

“If the aim is to obstruct the appointment of Gen. Johnson Olony, how many non Chollo Governors came and went, what is particular about a Chollo Governor on that State? And besides, the allocations of state responsibility is a party business not conference.”