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Salva Kiir provokes a dangerous
situation in the South
By Tut Gatwech: April 24, 2008
The First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, President of the
autonomous Government of Southern Sudan and Chairman of the Sudan People’s
Liberation Movement (SPLM), 1st Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has proved
beyond any reasonable doubt that he is not for peace and unity of the people
of Southern Sudan by allowing ill-advises from his ethnic group to divide
the SPLM and create a rift between him and his Deputy, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
Kiir is now spearheading a conspiracy against a number of top SPLM leaders
notably among them is Dr. Riek Machar as the SPLM Second National Convention
is just a few weeks away.
Kiir has been ill-advised by those who are not interested in democracy,
peace and unity of the people of Southern Sudan that his Deputy, Dr. Machar
has been winning the hearts and minds of the people in the country and in
the region as a whole and that he might seek to take over the chairmanship
of the SPLM in the coming Convention.
It looks like the Chairman is so jealous and wants to punish his deputy
surprisingly because of his hard work in the government and peacemaking in
the region. What surprises many intellectuals in the South is the fact that
Kiir himself last year circulated a Circular to all organs of his government
giving additional important assignments to Dr. Machar. And these included
among others the supervision and monitoring of the 5-year strategic plan of
the government, the annual plans of the Ministries, the independent
Commissions, the Presidential advisors, the implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Population and Housing Census, the
coming elections in 2009 and the referendum in the South in 2011.
These powers were delegated to Machar by Kiir who himself signed and
circulated the Circular, a copy of which I obtained via internet. I don’t
know whether somebody advised him to do so in the first place. Now, maybe
the same advisor has again explained to Kiir that Machar is seen to be the
one running the government by the people and Kiir is seen as incompetent and
doing nothing.
The Ugandan peace talks which Machar successfully mediated and only awaits
signature of Joseph Kony is another source of jealousy which Kiir took from
his advisors. He forgot that he was the one who authorized Machar to mediate
the peace process on behalf of the Government of Southern Sudan.
Kiir also feels guilty of being incompetent to run the government which is
full of corruption and loses hope in the SPLA army he doesn’t have good
relations with its senior officers.
Kiir has also proved he is not capable to face the National Congress Party
in implementing the CPA and guaranteeing the interests of the people he
governs in the South. His recent failure to stand his ground on the issue of
census in the Presidency meeting in Khartoum to defend the resolution of the
southern autonomous government is a big blow and embarrassment to him.
Then why add fuel to an already burning fire? Kiir should instead study the
motives of his advisors who want to cause conflict between him and Dr.
Machar. These people spearheaded by Pagan Amum as Garang’s boys plot to
remove Kiir from chairmanship but fear his alliance with Machar. They want
to create a situation where they will finally get Kiir vulnerable without
Machar’s support. Kiir is so naïve to analyze things. This is why his
advisors treat him like a lazy school boy!
The answer to Kiir’s weaknesses is not to create a rift with his deputy who
has been trying to lift his government up despite Kiir’s incompetence. Kiir
should better resign if he is so incompetent. Targeting Machar in an attempt
to destroy his future succession just on jealousy and ethnic hatred between
Nuer and Dinka will be a grave attempt with far reaching consequences that
Kiir and his advisors will regret and regret forever!
*Tut Gatwech is a former member of SPLA Red Army or Child-Soldiers. He
can be reached at: tutgatwech_born_in_1980@yahoo.com
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