May 23rd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the country’s former first vice president Riek Machar and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, a composition of 10 armed and non armed groups, have rejected the peace proposal presented by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation on Tuesday.
The IGAD peace proposal seek to divide power between Kiir’s government, Machar’s SPLM-IO, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, former SPLM political detainees and other political parties under the government.
In a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia on Wednesday, Machar’s SPLM-IO said they rejected the proposal because the concept of IGAD bridging is not in consistent with the current realities on the ground.
“The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to inform our members and the people of South Sudan at large that we have categorically rejected the IGAD “A BRIDGING PROPOSAL”. The contention of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) is that the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) collapsed in July, 2016 and the concept of “Bridging” in not consistent with the current realities in South Sudan,” the statement said.
“The IGAD “A BRIDGING PROPOSAL”, is an endorsement of the status quo which emerged in Juba after the collapse of the ARCISS. The IGAD Proposal further rewards the regime in Juba for their intransigence throughout the peace process and for their well-documented role in precipitating the collapse of the ARCISS in July, 2016,” the statement further said.
