Addressing a press conference in Juba on Saturday, Makuei said Dr. Machar, who is currently under house arrest, must first be dismissed from his role before any court proceedings could begin

By Opio Jackson

The government spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the detained First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, will be relieved from his position before facing legal action if proven guilty of instigating deadly violence in Upper Nile State.

Addressing a press conference in Juba on Saturday, Makuei said Machar, who is currently under house arrest, must first be dismissed from his role before any court proceedings could begin.

“He can not be tried with his position as the First Vice President. He will have to be relieved from his position so that he faces the law,” Makuei stated.

The government said that Machar was behind the clashes that resulted in the deaths of 400 soldiers and White Army fighters in Nasir and Ulang Counties.

It said that the White Army, a loosely organized militia group, remains loyal to Machar’s faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) despite Dr. Machar’s denial of having any link with the group.

Makuei explained that the investigation committee will soon update the public once they have completed their task to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant a formal trial.

“Who will do that? It is an investigation committee. They will investigate the case and once investigation is completed and they have found that there is sufficient evidence to warrant the trial, they will write to His Excellency the President to request him to relieve the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar from his position as the First Vice President of the Republic so that he is taken to court,” he said.

However, Makuei continued that if the investigation clears Machar of any wrongdoing, the case will be dropped and Machar will be discharged from any legal responsibility.

“If the investigation finds that there is no case against him, they will pause the case and discharge him,” Makuei stated.

Makuei categorized the SPLM-IO into four Types, including SPLM/A-IO under Investigation in conflict with the law, SPLM/A-IO in hiding, SPLM/A-IO in self-exile, and SPLM/A-IO in the Government.

He said the High-level security committee of the peace agreement implementation will convene an urgent meeting of the parties signatory to the peace agreement to decide whether to endorse one of the four categories of the SPLM-IO to work with.

Makuei further said that the arrest of Dr. Riek Machar would not jeopardize the implementation of the Peace agreement.

He added that Dr. Machar is not the SPLM-IO, but a leader; therefore, anyone can take over the position of chairmanship of the party.

“If the investigation finds that there is no case against him, they will pause the case and discharge him,” said Hon. Michael Makuei, Government spokesperson.