Opposition groups have ‘little to blame’ on delayed peace implementation  – activist

NAIROBI – A South Sudan women activist has said opposition groups in the world’s youngest country have little to blame on the current delay in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, but urged them to brush aside personal interests to bring lasting peace.

In an exclusive interview with Sudans Post on Monday, Betty Yom, a Nairobi-based activist, also urged opposition groups to unite for a successful peace implementation and to end the culture of defection that has marred the conflict.

“I think opposition groups have a little blame and they need to stop internal division amongst themselves if they want to bring change in South Sudan. They need to stop that culture of defection from opposition to government, government to opposition and so forth,” Yom said.

“That culture is not good for opposition groups that want to bring real reforms and democracy in the country. The opposition groups need to unite and speak in one voice and demand reforms and democracy together and that is the only way they’ll succeed in South Sudan,” she added.

She further urged the opposition groups to put personal interests aside which she said would result in the success of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement whose provisions are most behind schedule now.

“They need to put personal interest aside and look at the big picture and peace for the country. That is what I think will help the opposition groups to bring real change in South Sudan,” she added.

‘Government need to be serious’

Yom also addressed the government responsibility in the delay of the implementation the revitalized peace agreement saying the government need to be serious in the process by providing the funds that are needed for its execution.

“The parties to the agreement in South Sudan are not implementing the revitalized peace agreement the way it should be implemented. And the biggest blame goes to the government because the government doesn’t want to implement the things I mentioned in question,” she said.

“The government needs to be serious with peace agreement by implementing everything that was agreed and signed in the revitalized peace agreement. The government needs to provide funds for peace implementation and follow everything that was agreed in the revitalized peace agreement,” she added.