SPLM-IO reiterates its rejection of national dialogue
First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar addresses a press conference jointly with President Salva Kiir (not seen) at the State House in Juba, on February 20, 2020 (Photo: via Getty Images)
JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, has reiterated its rejection of the national saying the process which began in December 2016 does not address the root causes of the deadly conflict which partially ended in 2016.
This comes after the British ambassador to South Sudan Christopher Trott urged the SPLM-IO leader and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar in a meeting on Tuesday to join the national dialogue.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, Dut Majokdit, a senior member of the main armed opposition group said the peace agreement already addressed the root causes of the conflict and that the national dialogue was not necessary.
“The roots causes of the conflicts have been addressed by the Peace Agreement.The National dialogue is not the solution for the current political and economics situation in the country. The implementation of the revitalized peace agreement is the alternative toward peace and stability,” the SPLM-IO official said.
The official said instead, those “pushing the SPLM-IO to join the national dialogue initiative need to be informed that the root causes of the conflicts in South Sudan aren’t to be addressed by forming steering committees to spearhead an ending call, and become the business for the members.”
He urged president Salva Kiir Mayardit to expedite the “formation of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing to spearhead efforts to address the legacy of the conflict and promote peace, national reconciliation and healing process, instead of wasting Millions of dollars on the National dialogue initiative that would never yield fruits.”