Machar’s media aide says peace deal not being renegotiated

JUBA – South Sudan’s revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 is not being renegotiated and only parties to the deal are negotiating the formation of the states and local governments formation as provided for in the agreement, James Gatdet Dak, the press secretary for First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny said today.

Some social media commentators have criticized the Kiir and Machar for what they said may amount to renegotiation of the revitalized peace agreement as some provisions have been violated as president Salva Kiir refuse to appoint General Johnson Olony, a SPLM-IO nominee, as governor of Upper Nile state.

Writing on his social media Facebook timeline, Gatdet said such claims are baseless and those suggesting that the agreement is being renegotiated should only work to commend the Machar and President Kiir for concluding the division of states and local government positions.

‘[…..] we should commend our leaders, both His Excellency, the President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and His Excellency, the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, and the other leaders of the Parties—who are signatories to the R-ARCSS—for the completion of the allocations of the executive and legislative positions in the States/Counties across our beloved country,” Gatdet said.

“Some people wrongly saw this process of determining the numbers of States Ministries, MPs, Advisors, Commissions, etc, and allocating the positions in the States/Counties as a renegotiation of the R-ARCSS. This is not a renegotiation of the R-ARCSS. It is rather the implementation of the R-ARCSS while reaching a consensus on the numbers and allocations which were never stipulated in the R-ARCSS document in details and by names,” he said.

The senior opposition official went on to explain: “For instance, R-ARCSS provided for percentages of 55% for ITGoNU, 27% for SPLM/SPLA (IO), 10% for SSOA and 8% for OPP. These are the responsibility sharing ratios among the Parties to the R-ARCSS. However, the R-ARCSS did not specify how many seats in total to be allocated among the Parties based on the percentages, for example, in the States Legislative Assemblies. The R-ARCSS did not provide for a specific Party by name to take the speakership position of a particular State Legislative Assembly, or which Party takes the Chief Whip or Opposition Chief Whip, or which Party takes which specific Specialized Committee in the State Legislative Assembly, etc.

“Also, R-ARCSS document did not specify which Party should take the gubernatorial position, or its deputy in which State. It did not also specify how many Ministries should be created in each State, and what are the names of such Ministries, and which Party should take which Ministry, etc. It also did not specify how many State government Advisors or Commissions should be created in each State, and which Party takes the position of which Advisor or Commission.

“R-ARCSS also did not specify which County Commissionership position should be given to which Party, and in which County, etc., etc.

“So, it had to be incumbent upon the Parties to the R-ARCSS to discuss, agree or reach a consensus on all those details or numbers and specifications and allocate them among the Parties. This is what some people misconceive to be a renegotiation of the R-ARCSS.  It is not!

“This is simply the implementation of the very R-ARCSS but with required consensus on the missing details about the numbers, names and allocations of the specifics. Let us congratulate our leaders for finally reaching the consensus on these issues! I believe the States governments shall be formed as soon as next week. And of course, with the appointment of the Governor of Upper Nile state.”