Juba, January 8, 2016 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit, has defended his 28 states expansion plan at a meeting held by SPLM/A-in government in Juba, claiming that his 28 states policy is in line with the SPLM’s policy of taking towns to the people – a proposal first put forward by Former South Sudanese late leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior before he died in a mysterious plane crash in July of 2005.
Kiir also said he will hunt down rebel elements who operate in Equatoria region.
During his speech detailing his future plan for the future of the fractured ruling SPLM party, Kiir asserted that those who want him to revoke his order should go to the capitals of his new states and revoke them there, not through him.
In surprise move, Kiir called out the leader of the SPLM/A-IO’s advance team Taban Deng Gai and told him that there are armed forces in Equatoria region and that they claim to have links with the SPLM/A-IO, declaring that he will not stop “from hunting them [rebels] down like rates wherever they go.”
In a convention hall full of government officials and party personnel, Kiir also called out the name of Former Western Equatoria State information minister Charles Kisanga who now leads rebel South Sudan People’s Patriotic Front (SSPPF/Arrow Boys) group which affiliates itself with the South Sudanese rebels led by Dr. Riek Machar.
He further calls on all parties to the IGAD-Plus’s compromise peace agreement to implement the pact and vows to never revoke his 28 states decree, raising questions whether or not the power-sharing deal will stick.
The presidential order number 36 was in the past denounced by both rebels and the international community, saying the decree violates the peace deal.