Sudan: Disagreements Over Next Vice-President Delays New Government in Juba
26 July 2013
Juba - Deep disagreements over who should be the next Vice President of
South Sudan has delayed the formation of the next cabinet and left a power
vacuum since the dissolution of the whole government on Tuesday.
South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Tuesday issued a rare
decree removing his long time Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, and
dissolving the whole cabinet.
Government ministries were closed since Wednesday as staff feared to report
to work in anticipation of violence.
President Kiir had directed the under-secretaries to take charge in their
respective ministries under the secretary general of the government, Abdoun
Agau, who will run the government until the next cabinet is formed.
There have been rumours that the president had left the capital since
Tuesday evening, but a former official dismissed it saying the president had
been in his resident in Juba making consultations on the formation of the
next government.
Sources close to the presidency however said there have been deep internal
disagreements since Tuesday between the close aides of the president over
the choice of the next Vice President if the former Vice President, Riek
Machar, was not to be reinstated.
He said President Kiir had promised or approached a number of his colleagues
to appoint them as the vice president.
"Now that it is time to implement the promises to different colleagues,
things have become difficult particularly that others have now turned down
the offer", the source disclosed.
Among the possible candidates is the current speaker of the parliament,
James Wani Igga, former head of the National Congress Party (NCP) in South
Sudan, Riek Gai Kok, former minister of Justice, John Luk Jok and the
current chief of general staff, James Hoth Mai.
While Igga is reportedly willing to the take over the seat of the vice
president, Jok and Mai were said to have turned down the offer.
Kok is also rumoured to have changed his mind in the last 48 hours by also
turning down the offer to take over the position.
Many in the consultative meetings also rejected Igga as the next
vice-president, accusing him of weakness and lack of seriousness as a
leader.
In normal circumstances, the president should first appoint his deputy who
will in turn consult with him on the formation of the cabinet.
It is reported that many people have been waiting for the appointment of the
vice-president or formation of the government before they could express
their reactions.
INTERNATIONAL CALLS
Meanwhile, the African Union Commission, Canada, the intergovernmental
Authority on Development, along with Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom
and the United States issued a joint statement, calling on all parties to
maintain calm and prevent violence, as well as urging leaders in the country
to expedite the formation of a new cabinet.
"We encourage South Sudan to do so in a manner that reflects the diversity
of the South Sudanese people, and in conformity with its Transitional
Constitution and the democratic ideals the new country has espoused," the
statement said.
Since the 24 July, the State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, issued a
statement calling on all the parties to maintain calm and prevent violence.
He also urged that the new cabinet be formed "quickly and transparently".
"We encourage South Sudan do so in a manner that reflects the diversity of
the South Sudanese people, and that respects its Transitional Constitution
and the democratic ideals the new country has espoused", Psaki stressed.
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Received on Fri Jul 26 2013 - 23:28:31 EDT