SSOA calls for nonpartisan politics ahead of elections
The Chairperson of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Josephine Lagu, has called on parties to the revitalised peace agreement to reserve partisan politics during the transitional period and focus on service delivery to citizens.
Josephine, who doubles as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the reshuffling in the government, both at national and state levels, should not spark issues to derail the peace implementation process among the parties.
Speaking to The City Review on Friday, Ms Josephine noted that the changes made by President Salva Kiir have been done with the consent of individual party members who deemed it necessary in the interest of peace implementation.
“I am saying at least for the interim period, let us put partisan politics aside. Let us focus on the implementation of the peace agreement, and the time for election will come, and that is when we go partisan, “he said.
Josephine’s remarks came following a series of recent changes, which entailed removing and replacing constitutional post holders at both national and state levels, that sparked concern among officials as well as the citizens.
Changes made
On Thursday, Kiir relieved Kaman Matur Ajak, a representative of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), as a commissioner of Rumbek Centre County.
Mr Matur was immediately replaced with Dut Manak Akout Manyiel in two separate Presidential Decrees readout on the state-owned SSBC on Thursday evening.
It came just two days after President Kiir fired three commissioners of Rumbek East and North counties, Mapour Malek Arop and Kumbai Dalbeny respectively, and Johnson Malual Achiek of Yirol East County that preceded with several other decrees.
But Ms Josephine said: “What I would urge is that people should not try to focus too much on it. The parties to the agreement are working very, very closely together, whether in the legislature or the executive and at both levels of government.”
“Obviously, depending on the individual’s behaviour, the party that nominates the person may withdraw that nomination of that particular individual.”So it should not bring major concern. It is, actually, a normal procedure, “Josephine stressed.
She added that “The members of the national and state legislatures have just been reconstituted last year, and there have been removals and replacements, and we take that as normal development.”
Josephine said any party reserves the right to make changes when deemed necessary in the interest of the peace implementation process.
