Kiir Meets With NLC, Political Bureau

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Acting Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Dr. Ann Itto, briefed the media today, soon after President Salva Kiir Mayardit briefed  the SPLM Party, Political Bureau and the National Liberation Council (NLC) at J1 (State House) on what he had signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday 25th , 2014.

Dr. Itto informed the media that the meeting included meeting members of the SPLM Political Bureau, Members of the National Legislative Council (NLC), who are present in Juba, as well as  members of the SPLM Secretariat.

“The purpose of this meeting is actually to look at the protocol that had been signed in Addis Ababa on Monday in order for the leaders of the SPLM to acquaint themselves with the protocol in which issues of governance, security arrangements, economy and reconciliation have been highlighted. The briefing brought together leaders of SPLM so to be better prepared to implement this program in the protocol.

“We understand that Riek Machar has not signed the protocol but our president has. This is an indication of how committed our president is to bringing about peace to our people. On our part too, as SPLM, we are committed to peace because we have only completed the first journey of our liberation struggle. The second journey of our liberation struggle only started on 09th July 2011 and we wanted this time to lay down the foundation of the country we all dream of. A country that is peaceful, free and prosperous.

“So this afternoon, the meeting has been adjourned because the president wants our peace negotiators to be back in the country with the latest update from Addis Ababa. As soon as they arrive back tomorrow, we will sit down and they will briefed us; this will be followed by discussion as to how best we can contribute to the enrichment of this protocol because the protocol is only give an outline. There are number of things that need to be negotiated, for example the powers of the executive and the security arrangements need to be negotiated. There are so many aspects that still need to be negotiated.

“We wanted to be able to reinforced the negotiating team with ideas coming from the SPLM leadership. We believe this is a very good frame work; we want to be looking ahead to see what is required in terms of mobilization, informing to our people about this protocol so that we all put our efforts in implementing it properly, just like during the time of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Question (Miraya): What is the position of the SPLA (Sudan People Liberation Army) with regards to the signed the protocols, which you said the opposition boycotted?

SPLM (Ann Itto): Well our chairman, thank God, signed and we are very happy with it.

Question (Miraya): Apart from being happy with the position of the SPLM?

SPLM (Ann Itto): It is our position. If you say you are happy with the document isn’t that your position? We accept what is signed, isn’t that the position? If am happy with the document it means that is my position. Our chairman signed and that becomes automatically the position of the SPLM but we are very happy that he actually signed it even though Riek does not want to sign it. We believed it is a very good document; but because it doesn’t have details we need to discuss it amongst ourselves as leaders of SPLM, in order to be able to inform our negotiating team who will go back to Addis to discuss the details of that protocol, as a protocol does not normally have details. The details are what we are now preparing ourselves to give to our negotiators.

Question (Gurtong): How about if the rebels continue violating the ceasefire?

SPLM (Ann Itto): Well they have already been warned and would be unfortunate if they did. It would be very unfortunate indeed for them because I heard only this morning that they gunned down a  helicopter belonging to UN and killed some people. I cannot confirm how many. This is already an indication of lack of interest to bring peace into this country; but I think IGAD is very firm this time and am sure they will hold accountable the rebels for doing this. I don’t think anybody would allow such thing!! Innocent people killed; people who have come to South Sudan to help us achieve peace. Monitors cannot be killed just like that. So I am sure they will be held accountable for what they have done.

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