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July 31, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudanese former vice-president Riek Machar on Tuesday congratulated the country’s citizens for honouring millions of people who lost their lives during the liberation struggle in pursuit for independence.

South Sudan’s former vice-president Riek Machar (Getty)

Machar, also the deputy chairperson of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) issued the statement on July 30, while the entire country commemorated its Martyrs day.

He said many leaders, including SPLM founder, John Garang de Mabior, members of gallant forces and ordinary citizens died in the over two decade civil war with Sudan. The late Garang, the first leader of the movement died on 30 July, 2005 in a helicopter crash as he returned to South Sudan from Uganda.

Machar, who addressed local and international media after his removal as vice-president last week, further urged the people to remain calm and commemorate the day in harmony and unity.

South Sudan president Salva Kiir, in a decree issued on 23 July relieved Machar from the vice-presidency, dissolving the entire government in a move that shocked many.

But the former vice-president has since appealed for calm, and called for the need to establish a national corporation that will be raising funds, organizing and preserving such national events for the generations to come.

MOVING TOWARDS DICTATORSHIP

Machar has advised president Kiir, also the chairman of the ruling party against resorting to dictatorship, urging him to respect the democratic principles enshrined in the country’s transitional constitution as well as in the party’s constitution.

He insists he tried to correct issues in government, while in service for the last eight years, but to no avail. Machar, however, added that this left him with no option, but to speak out against such challenges on rampant corruption, rising tribalism, insecurity, stagnant economy, poor international relations and loss of vision and direction by the ruling party.

In the 5th May politburo meeting, Machar enumerated the shortcomings and informed his colleagues in the ruling party that he would run for the party chairmanship this year and 2015 presidential election; a revelation which raised eyebrows and cost him his job.

He however maintained that self-criticisms within a party leadership are healthy in democratic processes and that it was equally his constitutional right to contest for any political position in the country.

He criticized Kiir’s sacking of elected governors of Lakes and Unity states, saying it was in violation of the constitution as the president had no constitutional right to sack elected governors at will.

According to Machar, the two states had not experience situations that threatened the national security and territorial integrity.

He further said the only state in South Sudan that had been experiencing wars is Jonglei state, due to deadly inter-communal fighting and war with the rebels of David Yauyau.

The former vice-president did recognise the president’s constitutional powers to dissolve and form a new government, but stressed that Kiir should have done this at the time when he wrote a letter to 75 senior government officials, suspecting them to have stolen $4.2 billion.

RESOLVE MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN THE PARTY

Meanwhile, Machar called on the president, as chairman of the SPLM, to call for political bureau meeting in order to resolve challenges arising in the party leadership.

The party seems to have been paralysed as the process to pass its basic documents, such as the constitution, manifesto, rules and regulations and code of conduct, have all come to a standstill.

The party was meant to hold its regular national convention since May, in accordance with its five-year schedule, so as to elect a new leader as its flag bearer for the 2015 presidential elections.

The last national convention during which members elected the current chairperson took place in May 2008.

Machar also criticized the recent move by president and chairperson, Salva Kiir, in which he issued two party orders suspending and silencing the SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum.

Kiir called for investigation into Amum’s actions and behavior as well as restrict his movement and expression, in the orders which Machar said were unfortunately mixing up party and government issues.

He said some of the charges and disciplinary measures against Amum should have been addressed through the party’s institutions, while others can be done by government.

He warned against curtailing constitutional rights and freedoms of individuals, such as freedoms of movement and expression.

The former vice-president further told the press that he had helped Kiir get elected when he campaigned alongside the latter during the 2010 elections in the country’s nine states. In Lakes state, however, Machar said he first introduced Kiir to voters as his running mate, hoping that the South Sudan leader will accord him the same when he ends his 10-year stay at the helm come 2015.".

"But the president has reneged on the gentlemen agreement we had during the elections as running mates,” he said.

Machar also decried the president’s “one-man show” and his lack of attaching importance to the ruling party, saying he should have consulted with the politburo, the highest political organ of the party, on the formation of the next cabinet.

The former vice-president reiterated his intention to unseat Kiir in both the ruling party leadership and in the government’s top seat by 2015.

An analyst said the next battle ground is clearly drawn in the party, adding that unlike the government where Kiir had a clear cut of his constitutional powers to sack any one at will, he doesn’t have the same constitutional powers in the party to dismiss senior officials elected by the SPLM national liberation council.

"Besides, it seems Kiir will have light weight and less influence in the politburo or the institution may split as Machar seems to have gained more ground than Kiir in the most powerful party institution,” he said..

(ST)