In a statement, SSOA said it did not take part in the content of the press statement alleging its pullout from the statement government and reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement which it said needs political understanding to resolve political disagreements properly without causing further harm to the public safety
“Leaders of SSOA in Western Equatoria State would like to distance itself from the Press Release and make it clear to the members of SSOA and the entire citizen of Western Equatoria State and the public that SSOA was not invited nor consulted for any meeting that resolved to issue such a Press release. SSOA has not contributed whatsoever to the content of the Press Release,” SSOA said on the statement by the deputy governor.
“However, SSOA as an umbrella of 8 different political parties believe in the formal and constitutional approach as means to address issue or concern necessary to the public, because SSOA is a political entity guided by principle and is committed to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in letter and spirit,” the statement stressed.
The deputy governor had accused his boss, the governor, who is from the main armed opposition SPLM-IO of withdrawing from the state council of ministers’ meeting and accused First Vice President Machar of appointing ‘incompetent’ individuals such as the governor to the important state government top position.
SSOA said it is not a show of goodwill to hold individuals who are supposed to work collectively for any concern that might arise during the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement, urging the other signatories to the agreement to be guided by the principles put forth in the deal.
“Though the Revitalized Government of National Unity, is facing a wide range of challenges at different levels, SSOA is optimistic that most of these challenges can be addressed amicably instead of holding an individual solely responsible,” the statement said.
“We, the leaders of SSOA in Western Equatoria State, wish to inform our colleagues in other political parties in the State to be guided by the content of R ARCSS and the Constitution of the state and that of the Republic of South Sudan,” the statement added.
The statement further disowned the signature put in the statement in which the deputy governor along with a few other officials said they have withdrawn from the government of General Alfred Futuyo and urged the deputy governor not to push the SSOA into any dispute that it did not initiate.
“SSOA wants to make it clear that the designated signature in the Press Release does not represent SSOA whatsoever, because the individual who claimed to be a member of SSOA is not. SSOA as one of the signatories to the R-ARCSS must be respected not to be pulled or pushed to any mess by any other party to the agreement for their personal interest, because we are here to work for peace not for division of the people in the state. We the leaders of SSOA in Western Equatoria State should not be used by any political party,” the statement said.
“The outstanding issue between SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO was resolved in the three days meeting about two months ago and all the members promised to work together for peace and the unity of the people of Western Equatoria State,” it added.
It further said that SSOA “believe all the States in South Sudan have problems, but the solution should not be in the social media, but we as the state have the capacity to address our problems that is why we are called the government. Since we cannot address our own problems at the state level, we therefore call on the urgent intervention of the parties to the agreement in Juba to come and address this misunderstanding amicably.”