Nairobi/Juba, November 14, 2016 (SSNA) — The leader of Amani National Congress (ANC) party Musalia Mudavadi has criticized Kenyatta over his decision to pull troops out of South Sudan after a Kenyan military general was sacked early this month by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over civilian deaths in South Sudan.
Mudavadi branded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision “strange diplomacy of frustration” and warned that Kenya could lose everything if South Sudan civil war continues.
“Our international obligations cannot be dependent on one incident. The moment partners know we easily succumb to provocation, it will be the beginning of being ignored as whining fellows,” ANC chief said.
Mudavadi says “the withdrawal comes hot on the heels of the diplomatic goof of deportation of Machar’s spokesperson,” adding that “strange diplomacy of frustration that borders on despondency.”
The ANC leader reveals that Kenya has huge financial investments in the war-torn young nation and that pulling out Kenyan peacekeepers could further ruin chance of peace.
“Kenya has everything to lose if the civil war in South Sudan escalates. There is no need for Jubilee to antagonise South Sudan, former VP Riek Machar, and the UN,” Mudavadi warned.
Kenya announced troops pullout one day after Lt. Gen. Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki was removed as head of UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Kenya forced deportation of South Sudanese rebel Spokesman James Gatdet Dak to Juba has been strongly criticized by the supporters of the SPLM/A-IO. The move has also been condemned by world leaders, rights groups, with the UNHCR accusing Nairobi of violating “international refugee law.”
Most South Sudanese believe Kenya involvement in South Sudan peace process has been instrumental. However, it is no secret here in Juba where politicians openly talk about some Kenyan MPs who are good friends of South Sudan’s government and would do anything to persuade Kenyatta in Kiir favor.