Lam Akol quits, calls for change

Lam Akol says President Salva Kiir failed to respect the principles of the August 2015 peace agreement, aimed at bringing an end to South Sudan’s violent conflict.

Akol’s resignation follows a violent escalation in Juba last month and political developments he says have violated the peace agreement. “There is no more a peace agreement to implement in Juba,” Akol writes in his public resignation statement.

Dr. Lam Akol resigns as #SouthSudan's Agriculture minister. He explains why in this strong statement. pic.twitter.com/iIKd0Ds1MR

— Rachael Akidi (@rakidi) August 1, 2016

Akol pointed out several reasons for his resignation, saying Kiir and his party have been working to block the implementation of the peace agreement. He cited the creation of the 28 states, which according to him was contrary to the requirements of the peace agreement, the refusal to implement the security arrangements especially in Juba, and stalling the reconstitution of the Transitional Legislative Assembly.

He further said the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) was prevented from carrying out its duty as an example how Kiir’s administration blocks the implementation of the peace agreement.

I have today made public my resignation from the TGONU as the agreement collapses

— Dr Lam Akol (@AkolLam) August 1, 2016

Akol’s resignation came just a few days after the appointment of the new First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, replacing Riek Machar. Akol says, this move by President Kiir, returned South Sudan to the status quo of before the signing of the peace agreement.

However, Taban Deng Gai is the “right person to implement the peace agreement”, said Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, SPLM-IO Secretary General, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, and defends Taban Deng’s nomination. 

“History teaches us that whenever the security arrangements of any peace agreement collapse, the whole agreement collapses […]. Both, the security and political arrangements of ARCISS (Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan) have been scrapped,” Akol says.

Akol describes the current administration “a callous, totalitarian and ethno-centric regime that seems to thrive on the suffering of its people”. He called for a change of the government. Akol also resigned as Chairperson of the Democratic Change opposition party, a party he founded in 2009.

First Vice President Taban Deng Gai said on Tuesday, August 2, Lam Akol “might be also told that he is a bad manager”, criticising the minister’s resignation.