December 24th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan prominent opposition and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny has called for a new page in a Christmas message issued this evening.
The main armed opposition leader has been in the capital Juba for two weeks trying to fine settlement with President Kiir on several pending issues of a peace agreement the two men signed to end the war last year.
In his Christmas message, Machar who is also the country’s First Vice President designate urged the people of South Sudan “to cement the new page of reconciliation and forgiveness that started since September 12, 2018.”
“I am writing this Christmas and New Year message just on my return from Juba to Khartoum, I have spent two full weeks in Juba pushing for the implementation of the outstanding critical pre-transitional tasks such as security arrangements, number of states, ensuring that political space is opened so that peace dissemination is conducted in a secured environment.
“Our mechanisms working on implementation of the R-ARCSS have now spent over a year in Juba. Most will work even on the Christmas day.
“In the light of the progress made during the face to face meetings in Juba, we are also looking forward to the meeting that shall be convened by IGAD Special Envoy and facilitated by the President of the Republic of South Africa in the first week of January 2020 to determine the number of states and their boundaries.
“On behalf of the SPPLM/SPLA (IO), I wish the people of South Sudan a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year wherever they are in our country – in towns, rural areas or in the protection of civilians sites (POCS) or in the refugee camps. I wish them all happy festivities.
“It is my pleasure to call upon our people to seize this celebrative season to cement the new page of reconciliation and forgiveness that started since September 12, 2018. By embarking on this process, we can achieve healing and overcome the pains and the suffering caused by the tragic war as it is evident that the fabric of our society has destroyed and our communities are divided along ethnic fault lines.
“It is now the time for all of us to work together to unite our people and mend the fabric of our society again as we remember the Prince of Peace, the Savior Jesus Christ. Once again I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May the Lord consolidate the Peace in our country. God bless us all.”
