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S. Sudan gov't refutes claims of replacing first vice president

Xinhua, July 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan on Friday refuted claims of a subtle plot to replace First Vice President Riek Machar after he fled Juba in the wake of resumption of intense fighting on July 8 between his forces and those loyal to President Salva Kiir.

Presidential adviser, Ateny Wek Ateny on Friday denied existence of the alleged scheme to replace the former rebel leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in opposition (SPLM/A-IO) with his compatriot Taban Deng Gai, the minister of mining in the transitional unity government.

But despite the denial, Ateny contradicted himself by revealing that they may still invoke article 7.3 of chapter 1 of the agreement on resolution of conflict to replace Machar within his armed opposition.

Article 7.3 says that in the event that the post of vice president falls vacant during the Transition Period, for any reason, including mental infirmity or physical incapacity, the president shall appoint a replacement, as per the terms of the amended 2015 Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.

"We do not know the whereabouts of Machar up to now. The last time he talked to the president was on Thursday at 1: pm. If he does not come, that can push us to invoke the article of the peace agreement to replace him," he disclosed.

However, Machar's spokesman James Gatdet Dak said the first vice president will only return to Juba after deployment of a rapid-response African standby force agreed upon recently at the African Union summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

"Machar will return to Juba once a third party force is deployed. President Salva Kiir's 48 hours ultimatum is unnecessary," he wrote on his social media.

Dak added that Machar has instructed his SPLA-IO commanders to disassociate from general Taban and his followers.

"Machar has directed all SPLA-IO commanders and units to cut off communication with mining minister, General Taban Deng and a few individuals with him who are behind a conspiracy engineered by president Kiir's faction to divide the SPLM/A-IO and dismantle the August 2015 peace agreement," he said. Endit