“I am optimistic about achieving peace”
Q: You called for reforms within the SPLM party. Why, in your opinion, has the situation exploded in such way?
A: Yes, we as a political party, demanded change, reforms and a restructuring of the SPLM immediately after the independence. The SPLM entered into a crisis when its leaders abandoned the vision and kept themselves at a distance from the movement’s fundamental principles and basic guidelines.
Q: Do you mean all SPLM’s leaders including yourself?
A: Yes, we and the movement’s leadership represented in the person of President Salva Kiir, disrupted party organs including the Political Bureau and the Liberation Council as well as the other structures and the party’s internal political processes. We were convinced that the SPLM’s leadership as a whole had been derailed and strayed.
Q: Which other parties are involved?
A: Sudan and other parties are involved. Uganda followed in the final moments. Sudan and Uganda have common interests in South Sudan, which is clearly evident now. Unfortunately, this has turned the South into a focal point for regional conflict.
Sudan’s government is working to influence Juba’s decisions. This also applies to Uganda which tries to protect its interests through armed intervention. The two parties to the conflict, the government and the opposition have committed a grave mistake by seeking the help of Khartoum and Kampala.
Q: What proves Sudan’s involvement or are you just trying to blame outside parties to cover up internal problems?
A: We do not put the blame on any party, but all received reports and monitoring what happens indicates that Sudan is involved in the ongoing war. Besides, the investigation committees will disclose the truth about these accusations.
Q: There are accusations of Sudan providing military support for Riek Machar, is that true?
A: The Sudanese government supports both conflicting parties of South Sudan, the government and the armed opposition led by Riek Machar. The Khartoum government is working to achieve its interests in South Sudan.
Q: How can this be proofed?
A: This matter is in the hands of inquiry committees and investigators who are examining the extent of Sudan’s involvement in this crisis.
Q: What is the vision you have put forward to the two conflicting parties to resolve the crisis?
A: Before and after our arrest, our position remained clear and it was focused on the necessity of entering into an internal dialogue and restructuring the party in South Sudan. It was necessary to seek a peaceful solution and engage in national dialogue to build South Sudan. Therefore, we rejected violence, which led to our arrest.
After our release, we assured that we will work to stop the war and decided to adopt dialogue as a means to rid South Sudan of its current crisis. We put forward this vision and expressed our intention to enter into dialogue with the government and the armed opposition to stop the war, achieve national reconciliation and re-unite our war-torn country.
Amid those developments, we first met with Riek Machar and later with Salva Kiir. Our position was clear and centred on the need to stop the war and initiate a comprehensive dialogue with all national forces to put an end to the fighting.
We rejected the requests made by Salva Kiir and Riek Machar to join them based on our firm principles. We cannot join any of the two parties of the conflict, but we decided to work and support both parties to stop the war. We are a group that stands by the side of peace and South Sudan, and we work for building a pioneering nation through national dialogue.
Q: Did the relationship between you and Riek Machar’s group became tense after your refusal to join them?
A: Yes, there is a feeling of disappointment by the SPLM-armed opposition groups after our decision not to join them. But they fully understand our anti-fighting position because war in South Sudan after the independence has no justification and has a devastating effect on our nascent state. The government held the same feeling [of frustration] after they thought that our refusal to join Riek Machar group meant joining them.
This attitude led to fears within the ranks of the two groups, considering that we posed a danger to them and their disputes over who would lead the country. We do not seek power and we stand for peace and a democratic rule. We stand for handing over power to the people, and the people will freely choose their leader through free and fair elections.
Q: What is your vision to achieve this democratic rule, given that you have no influence in the ongoing negotiation process?
A: We, as a group of the SPLM’s leaders, are working for the establishment of a democratic and just rule and to contribute to the efforts for holding fair and free elections, which would surrender power to the people. Based on these principles, we have an effective and clear influence on the negotiating process, and this role is not only limited to stopping the war, but it also aims at developing a viable project to govern South Sudan as well as to build a modern state with the participation of all political forces including the two parties of the ongoing conflict, civil society organisations, political parties and the religious community.
Q: But isn’t your influence to resolve the conflict very limited?
A: This view is not true. We have a genuine and effective role in resolving the crisis, and we have a position towards all issues. Our primary goal is to bring the war to a halt. The second goal is to achieve a democratic system for the people of South Sudan, and we are working hard and at unremitting pace with both the armed opposition and the government to narrow the existing differences towards a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis.
Q: Shall we witness the birth of a new party under your leadership amid the intransigence by the warring parties?
A: Our present efforts are focused on the national cause of achieving peace among all parties as a strategic goal for our group. These efforts also aim at unleashing the potentials held by the people of South Sudan so as to enable them to enjoy stability and peace. We ultimately aim to build an uncompromised sovereignty for our nation that leads to a successful foreign policy and contributes to the development of good neighbourly relationship with all the neighbours of South Sudan and toward realising the common interests of the peoples.
Q: Will you run for presidency if the situation stabilises in South Sudan?
A: The priority now is peace, ending the war, achieving national reconciliation and restoring the social fabric which was torn by war and political strife over power. It is also centred on working to build a society that lives in lasting peace and sustainable democratic system. These are the main national priorities rather than who runs for presidency.
Q: If these priorities are achieved, will you run for presidency?
A: If these priorities and missions were achieved, only then I would speak about the elections, and after power has been practically transferred to the people so that they become free to elect their government. At that phase, I may speak about intentions to present others and myself in a democratic atmosphere.
Q: Do Salva Kiir and Riek Machar need to be part of a transitional government to stop the ongoing war?
A: Being the two leaders responsible for the ongoing conflict and the ones responsible for leading the country into a crisis, they must work together and agree to rid South Sudan of the crisis, as both of them have a positive role to play. They must reach an agreement whose ultimate goal is to unite the people, nation and party. They must act as partners rather than adversaries. Should they find it impossible to accept that and act as partners, the only remaining solution would be for Salva Kiir and Riek Machar to resign from the country’s leadership and agree to hand over power to the others to resolve the crisis.
Q: Are you optimistic, will there be peace in South Sudan soon?
A: I am optimistic about achieving peace. I believe that the current national crisis constitutes a historic opportunity for learning valuable lessons for building the nation. This requires a positive spirit and determination to confront the crisis and free South Sudan from the disaster. The people of South Sudan are capable of achieving peace should they be guided by the vision of the late Dr. John Garang of building the nation based on common denominators within a democratic system in which power is given to the people and where governments become servants of their people.
