SPLM-IO condemns creation of new counties in Pibor, Abyei

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has condemned the creation of new counties in Pibor and Abyei administrative areas, according to a statement seen by Sudans Post.

This comes following a meeting between First Vice President Machar and a group of opposition politicians representing Abyei in the main armed opposition group in the capital Juba this afternoon.

“Monday, 20 September 2021, His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan has met today in his office with Representatives from the Three (3) Administrative Areas (Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng),” reads a statement issued by Machar’s office.

The statement said the “meeting discussed number of issues and concerns affecting the members of the SPLM/A (IO) in the three Administrative Areas.”

Nyenagwek Kuol, the SPLM-IO nominee for deputy minister of interior who hails from Abyei said they “raised their concerns on the exclusion of the SPLM/A (IO) from the government of the 3 Administrative Areas, thus violating the Power-sharing agreement on the Administrative Areas.”

She said that the group “condemn in the strongest possible terms the unilateral formation of governments in Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng by their Chief Administrators because it is unlawful,” saying that is a violation of article 1.9.2.1 of the revitalized peace agreement.

Nyenagwek said also they “condemn the creation of more counties in Pibor and Ruweng Administrative Areas by their Chief Administrators” and also urged “the Chief Administrators in the three Administrative Areas to revoke their decisions and to adhere to the Power-sharing agreement.”