South Sudan’s National Security (NSS) has released the details of the outbreak of violence in 2013 and 2016, a day after President Salva Kiir gave the directives to do so.
In a press conference at the ministry of cabinet affairs held on Monday, President Kiir directed the National Security Service to release the declassified information, detailing who instigated the deadly civil war that has led to the loss of more than a million lives since it started.
In an all-telling report, he revealed that the conflict began when the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny mobilised ‘thousands’ of soldiers in Unity state before his dismissal from office as vice president in July 2013.
“By March 2013, Riek Machar had disclosed his ambition to replace President Kiir as Chairman of the SPLM and ultimately to become President of the nation,” part of the report reads.
“Throughout 2013, Riek Machar was planning and organising his forces in the regions in preparation for rebellion. This mobilisation is why within 48 hours of the outbreak of fighting on 15 December 2013, Riek Machar was coordinating and mobilising troops from Unity State in a bid to overthrow the Government of South Sudan,” the report added.
President Salva Kiir has however, assured the country he would implement the revitalised peace agreement which ended years of conflict despite the challenges facing it.
He went on to call for unity in the implementation of the peace deal while assuring the country that all was in order.
“We all considered this agreement as the path to our stability and I am committed with our partners to implement it. I come before you today to affirm my government’s commitment to peace in our country,” Kiir said in an interview.
He stated full implementation of the peace deal was possible through sustainable dialogue among the parties, even though there will be challenges in achieving this.
“There are challenges we need to confront honestly as a people along with our partners to maintain total peace and bring prosperity to our people,” he said.
The President’s remarks came, following the main opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), announced their intention to withdraw from the various security mechanisms under the 2018 revitalised peace deal.
Riek Machar, first vice president in the transitional unity government and leader of SPLM/A-IO, gave reasons for the withdrawal, such as unprovoked attacks on his troops, which caused panic of a return to war.
Machar’s party had in the past, accused the SPLM-In Government under Kiir for stalling the progress on the peace process, especially on the security arrangements.