By Adia Jildo
Representatives of the Troika countries and members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party met on Thursday at the Party’s Secretariat in Juba to discuss challenges facing the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Bol Makueng, the SPLM Secretary for External Relations said the open talk was to help South Sudan in programs that are intended to build the nation despite challenges facing the implementation of the chapter two on the unification of the forces.
“It is already something near to finishing because the forces are ready and the President of the Republic had decreed some two days back that they were going to be graduated,” Bol said.
He added that the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir will have to work hand in hand to keep their promise of not returning the country to war.
“There was a situation of misunderstanding which will be corrected. When we are able to communicate among ourselves at all levels of political parties, then we will prevent all rumors, agitation and any misunderstanding can be eliminated,” he said.
Bol Makueng said despite the fact that the country was sanctioned not to buy guns undermining their efforts to graduate the unified forces, they will still graduate the forces even if without guns, should that be the cause.
He reiterated the President’s pledge of no return to war in remembrance of the losses and suffering of the civilians and army.
Kuol Atem, the secretary for political Affairs, Organization and Mobilization assured the citizens of security stability in the country citing that the tension that had happened was due to the Presidential decree on unification of forces command.
He said the SPLM/A-IO misunderstood the issue but had been brought down by the chairperson of SPLM/A-IO and the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
He called on the people living in the diaspora to stop beating the drum of war, urging the citizens to remain calm and not to panic saying that the security situation is normal.
“We only have one rebellion, that of Thomas Cirillo but all the others are now part of the government,” Atem pointed to the prevailing political situation in the country.