SSOMA says Kiir has usurped authority, calls for new peace process

The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), led by National Salvation Front (NAS) rebel leader Gen. Thomas Cirillo, has condemned what it called a Coup d’état by President Salva Kiir and called for a genuine, inclusive, and comprehensive national peace process to address the emerging constitutional and political crisis in South Sudan.

A Monday press statement signed by SSOMA Secretary General Emmanuel Ajawin said the grouping has closely followed President Kiir’s political manoeuvres, which culminated in his coup d’état against South Sudan’s current constitutional order, dissolving the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and establishing an illegal caretaker administration.

“SSOMA condemns the actions of President Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) and considers this development as a grave political, security and constitutional crisis,” the statement reads in part. “SSOMA has consistently expressed its rejection of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) as a mechanism for resolving the conflict in South Sudan and to achieve durable peace.”

“SSOMA publicly advocated for a new peace process that addresses the root causes of the conflict in the country. It is only such a process that will bring about sustainable peace in the country,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the present developments in the country vindicate SSOMA’s principled position that R-ARCSS is flawed and it will not lead to sustainable peace in South Sudan, as it did not address the root causes of the conflict in the country.

“SSOMA, however, stresses that the current situation should not be addressed through unilateral political measures. South Sudan requires a genuine, inclusive, and nationally owned peace processes that will comprehensively address the root causes of the conflict in the country and chart the way forward for sustainable peace, restoring political confidence, preserving peace and unity, and protecting the interests of its citizens,” the statement reads. “SSOMA commends the United Nations and regional actors who have likewise emphasized the importance of inclusive political dialogue and the need to involve, among others, non-signatory stakeholders in efforts to achieve a sustainable political settlement.”

The opposition grouping urged urgent international and regional actions to address the dire humanitarian situation in the country.

“SSOMA calls upon South Sudanese stakeholders, the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations, neighboring states and other international partners to urgently consult on the emerging constitutional and political crisis and to support a peaceful and genuine resolution of the crisis,” the statement said. “The current administration in the country is illegitimate as it does not have any legitimate constitutional mandate. Salva Kiir has used manipulation, coercion, and intimidation by using state resources and security apparatus to seize a constitutional order. He has maliciously staged a coup d’état.”

The group also called for an urgent, inclusive, and genuine comprehensive national dialogue involving political parties, opposition movements, civil society groups, faith/based groups, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to establish a credible pathway toward constitutional governance, sustainable peace and a democratic transition.

“Such dialogue should be convened in a neutral venue outside the country. SSOMA reiterates its proposal to use all documents of previous peace processes and agreements: The R-ARCSS, the Rome Peace Process, the National Dialogue, and the Tumaini Peace Process as the basis for a New Comprehensive Peace Process to chart the way forward to sustainable peace in the country,” the group said. “SSOMA categorically rejects the sham elections being planned by Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IG. SSOMA maintains that any electoral process must be preceded by the necessary political, constitutional, security and institutional conditions required to ensure that elections are peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible.”

“The holding of elections should form part of a genuine democratic transition rather than serve as a smokescreen for legitimizing dictatorship and avoiding resolving the root causes of the conflict in the country and the political and constitutional issues,” the statement added.

SSOMA also condemned and rejected the ongoing inter-party dialogue, saying it is perceived as planned to endorse decisions already reached by one political party.

‘The ongoing inter-party dialogue is only meant to garner some legitimacy to the illegitimate regime and to pave the way for Kiir’s sham elections. A genuine dialogue must be inclusive and conducted in a neutral place devoid of threats and intimidation of the participating parties,” the group said. “The present crisis in South Sudan has been orchestrated by President Kiir and will only exacerbate the dire humanitarian crisis in the country and is a recipe for more violence and insecurity. SSOMA warns that if the situation is not rescued through an inclusive comprehensive dialogue, South Sudan will soon be engulfed in violence that will hasten its total collapse and disintegration.”

The statement said SSOMA remains committed to a peaceful, inclusive and negotiated resolution of the South Sudan conflict and calls upon all national, regional and international stakeholders to work collectively to prevent further deterioration of the country’s political, security and humanitarian situation.

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