Oyet Nathaniel, the Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM-IO says election extension is meant to use the allowance of time to set the framework for the successful implementation of the agreement
By Binia Elizabeth
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) on Monday assured the United Nations Security Council Panel of experts that there will be no further election extension.
In a meeting in Juba, Oyet Nathaniel, the Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM-IO briefed the United Nations Security Council panel of experts on the status and prospects of the implementation of the R-ARCSS extension and outstanding political issues.
He told the delegates that the parties with which they are implementing the peace agreement had wanted to abrogate the agreement because of the sham elections.
“We could not allow sham elections because of its negative implications on South Sudan. We do not want the country to relapse to violence, and chaos, and the peace agreement has answered some of the questions in the country regarding the root causes of the conflicts in the country,” he explained.
Oyet continued that the SPLM-IO stood its ground and did not want anyone to sweep the agreement under the rug.
“It was the reason why we stood against anybody who wanted to hold elections when the situation of the country was not yet ripe.”
He stated that the election extension is meant to use the allowance of time to set the framework for the successful implementation of the agreement during the two-year extension.
According to him, the framework includes the resources for the implementation.
“This is the last extension of the election and all political parties must do everything possible to ensure that this extension succeeds because if it does not succeed they are not bound for any further extension.”
“We will be forced to make critical decisions whether the agreement is implemented or not implemented. We will be forced to make critical decisions about the elections and the future of the Republic of South Sudan,” Oyet added.
On a separate note, the deputy speaker told the UNSC panel of experts about the challenges they face in the implementation of the agreement, citing the recent clashes between the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO in Nagero County.
He said the situation in Western Equatorial and Western Bahr el Ghazal was provoked by the relocation of the SSPDF soldiers which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter Two of the agreement.
Oyet said the attack on the forces of the SPLA-IO, led to mass displacement of civilians and destruction of their livelihood.
“They announced that they were clearing roadblocks but it was false because it was a deliberate move. If they were clearing roadblocks, they would have coordinated with the forces on the ground but they did not,” he explained.
“This is the last extension of the election and all political parties must do everything possible to ensure that this extension succeeds because if it does not succeed they are not bound for any further extension,” Oyet Nathaniel, the Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM-IO.