Addis Ababa/Khartoum, December 2, 2016 (SSNA) — South Sudanese First Vice president Taban Deng Gai says governments of Ethiopia and Sudan agree with South Sudan to ban rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar from traveling in East African region, suggesting that Khartoum and Addis Ababa agreed to Juba’s request to isolate the armed opposition leader from their countries.
On November 23, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) obtained a video in which FVP Gai lashing out at Machar, calling him a “negative person” who has been rejected by the region and perhaps the whole African continent.
Gai, who speaks both in English and Arabic in the audiovisual, declares that the rebel chief was first told by the government of South Africa not to travel outside South Africa because nobody wants him in East Africa and that he is safe in the Republic of South Africa. Gai also said the former First Vice President was initially given a fake visa by an individual in Nigeria and that when the Nigerian government learned about the illegal visa, it went ahead and cancelled it, adding Nigeria is still investigating who gave Machar the visa.
The FVP mocks the rebel chief by telling the seemingly anxious audience that Machar is using the passport for the First Vice president and questions who is the legitimate FVP of South Sudan. He suggests that the armed opposition head should stop calling himself the legitimate FVP of the Republic of South Sudan because he was dismissed by the SPLM-IO, adding that Dr. Machar was also relieved from his FVP post by President Salva kiir. Gai even told the listeners that an experienced lawyer who can legally explain the legitimacy of First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan was in attendance.
Mr. Gai told his audience that Dr. Machar was asked by the Ethiopian government to choose where he should go because Addis Ababa does not want him and believes his presence in South Sudan would amounts to crisis or escalation of the ongoing civil war.
“When he arrived in Addis, he was told, friend, you have nowhere to go because your visa to Nigeria has been canceled by the Nigerian authorities therefore we will not take you to Nigeria,” Gai said.
“So tell us where you would like to go from here? He said he would go to Pagak, South Sudan. The Ethiopian authorities told him no, because your intention of going to Pagak means crisis, means fighting, and so we are not going to allow this,” he asserted.
Mr. Gai also claims in the video that Machar asked Ethiopia authorities to be allowed to go to Sudan and that Addis Ababa told him they cannot do it because the rebel leader has no entry visa to Khartoum.
At one point, Gai appears bothered by what he believes “uncivilized Ethiopians” allowed Machar to board a plane to Sudan.
“So, the uncivilized Ethiopians allowed him to board a plane to Khartoum, Sudan,” Gai protests.
“When he arrived in Khartoum, the Sudanese told him you have no resident in Khartoum. We don’t want you in Khartoum. They delayed the Ethiopian Airlines and told the Airlines that they should take this man [Machar] back to where you brought him from,” he continues.
Gai further explains that Ethiopian government contacted them after Machar was allegedly rejected by the Sudanese government. He assures the listeners that the rebel chief is free to come to Juba but he is not the First Vice President.
“He returned to Addis, Ethiopia. Upon arrival, the Ethiopians contacted us and said this person has nowhere or place to go to. We say ok! He is a south Sudanese. Let him choose including coming to Juba.
“Okay! He was supposed to come, by the way. He was supposed to come. He was supposed to come and stays like you. He would have not been taken to jail. But, he is not the FVP. He would have come and stay. If he was a strong man and an intelligence person who know how, he would have come to us,” Gai stated.
Gai further claims Machar demanded to talk to Sudan’s Bakari but his request was denied and told by Khartoum that his problem is a responsibility of the Sudanese Security and Immigration authorities not Bakari, adding that Machar negotiated with Sudan for four (4) hours and was eventually told by the Khartoum that he is not needed in Sudan.
The South Sudan’s First Vice President even alleged that Ethiopia government found one of Machar’s bodyguards with Ethiopian passport and the body guard was then asked by Ethiopian authorities to abandon Machar because the guard is an Ethiopian not South Sudanese. Gai also said the rebel leader didn’t sleep for two days because of issues surrounding his East Africa tour.
The SSNA understands that between November 19 and November 20, Dr. Machar experienced entry visa problems in Addis Ababa, which ultimately led Ethiopian immigration authorities to ask him to go back to South Africa and follow proper visa procedures there before returning to Ethiopia. A senior rebel official later told the SSNA that the rebel leadership blames itself for Machar’s visa difficulty because the SPLM-IO’s protocol office did not follow proper channels with the Ethiopian Immigration body, dismissing deportation claims as “false reports” and “over-exaggerated piece of information.” The South Sudan News Agency confirmed that Machar voluntarily choose to go back to South Africa after failed attempts to get an entry visa at the Bole International Airport.
The rebel leader fled Juba in July after government troops tried to assassinate him. Kiir later replaced him with Mr. Gai as the First Vice president.
The SPLM-IO says Gai betrayed the armed opposition simply because Machar refused to appoint him minister of petroleum, adding that he should not call himself SPLM-IO leader since he was dismissed from the party before Kiir appointed him.
The SSNA has contacted officials at Ethiopian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and Sudanese government through email and phone for comment but hasn’t received a response.
Secret arms deal between Ethiopia and South Sudan
A leaked document which the South Sudan News Agency cannot independently verify reveals secret arms deal between Ethiopia and South Sudan. The document bears signature of Lt. Col. Solomon Tor Kang who identify himself as Deputy Defense Attaché. The contract discloses that Addis Ababa sold a total of two million, nine hundred and ten thousand, and one hundred and seventy four (2,910,174) ammunition to Juba. The total sale includes 1,821,600 7.62x54mm PKM ammunition, 1,040,000 7.62x39mm AKM ammunition, 20,000 RGD-5 Hand Grenade, 610 122mm ammunition, 20,000 Rocket 107mm HE, and 7,964 60mm Mortar ammunition.
The document dated November 25, 2016, also says South Sudan national army (SPLA) agrees to pay $55,000 dollars to Ethiopia’s Ministry of National Defense, adding that the money covers transporting ammunition from Ethiopia’s stores to Ethiopia’s air force base located in Debreziet town.
The SSNA is still investigating the authenticity and actual cost of the alleged arms deal.
35 Comments. Leave new
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Riek Machar is the Official Leader of the SPLM-IO period, Commanding the oppsition. The Gov’t tried assassinating him but that will never end the changing we are fighting for…. Enough is Enough, Kiir is a failure.
The SPLM-IO will be more victorious than what the gov’t thinks…. Should civilians only rise up, that’s and end to the “KIIR GOV’T Vs SOUTH SUDAN CIVILIANS”. That change will come surely come.
Lazarus
Be clear with your point riek could be your leader,but not to my country.he made so much mess in our beloved country and yet he is still insist
Government don’t wanted to kill him by then,but he is very fool. I don’t understand what the CRONIES SPLM in general hear from general public phones. I meant SPLM in general and particularly Riek Machar,while they never pay any money to nobody. He is very danger to a poor people. Why listening, stop it now.
Most SPLM are afraid of losing power,while nobody want to overthrow them from power,maybe those in the government with them. Stop Hacking and listening,greedy is a type of a MEERKAT.
Sound legit, just tell us author or original source of this article.
Just watch the video.
Thank you
“uncivilized Ethiopians”…hahhaha.but for primitive people it is very difficult to comprehend what a civilization is.
Taban proves himself to be not a good leader. He now exposes himself to world. He is Vice president of South sudan and yet talks in uncivilized way. Sorry for him.
Taban Deng is a true leader. am sure the war will never come to an end if people are still encouraging riek to be a leader .during the movement of the SPLA/SPLM riek was against the movement and he killed people and yet he was forgiven
If this is a writersopinvon, I will forgivethis, but if this is an Insider from within SSNA, oho.
[…] South Sudanese First Vice president Taban Deng Gai says governments of Ethiopia and Sudan agree with South Sudan to ban rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar from traveling in East African region, suggesting that Khartoum and Addis Ababa agreed to Juba’s request to isolate the armed opposition leader from their countries…Read more: (southsudannewsagency.com) […]
Taban Nyakek is a big liar
Plize’ mr Taban Gai ?
Plize! Be free away from the cheer that you are? . Plize! Be free awar from site you are Plize’ you chat up ? Busters by Dr Majokdit
If the government of south sudan continue mobilizing the the wold its not a solution , fighting will continue up to the end of this country.
Am so sorry for South sudan to be ruled by a dog who is ever feel for his stomach to be fully and for getting the children.by Deng
Lam
Bro fight can continue as you said,however the result will always be the same.the only way out riek must leave his seat to Taban Deng.people think so negative about Taban but he is way better than riek.let all give him a chance and see the outcome of his leadership.i myself am pure just,and I don’t agree to follow riek.none of just know risk background.riek’s dad was same like riek.my dad told me a story of riek and I have seen no difference between risk and his own dad.his dad was killed because he was a killer like riek.riek entire family was never a good family.riek aim is to revenge his dad by killing just youth in smart.and we stupid people followed him with no shy.a my just or any tribe that need peace shouldn’t follow riek
We will fighting the Juba government no sranda
Taban proves himself to be not a good leader. He now exposes himself to world. He is Vice president of South sudan and yet talks in uncivilized way. Sorry for him.
The Presidency panics after SSNA report and now are lying on Sudan tribune. ST is quoting lies lies an lies without any proof.
Relations between south sudan with Ethiopia and Sudan are not going to be the same.
Peace and harmony
Fellow Africans, life is too short! Mouth seseseko died with almost zero, Nelson mandela tool nothing with him to the grave, nyerere took nothing, as long as africa continues to invest in non necessary weapons to kill it’s people, unless africa changes and starts helping it’s poor sick population, it risks being colonized again because of its failure to unite for the better of afrikaans
Let peace be restored in S.Sudan.It is very unfortunate that John Garang died,he would have mantained peace and unity in South Sudan.
Fidel Castro was a good guy than your sick John Garang. Walking from House to House to play people against each others and that’s you called John~s Garang visions
all people talk balabala shit up ur mouse bitch. any one you know s.s father is called Mr Machar even now is coming soon as you. *uck u,
You are very aggressive and stupid hot temper. You need to Come down
We are “uncivilized”? At least we know we are clever enough to understand the value of peace and we wish that for you evenif you are *arting more than your *ss can handle
ambesaw you r talking to the most primitive animals in the world who do not know wht is left and right.thy r sub humans.they also cannibalize.i mean thy eat their fellow human being ‘s flesh.chk on BBC report on war of july.so better refrain from giving comment here.
@Miraze
Wow you seem “civilized” just know not all reports on BBC are facts.
I needed to thank you for this good read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post bkbdcgefbkdfggek
I do hopping as Nuer of South Sudanese can’t be betrayed as we all knowed such as bad experience that happen from tow brothers Lol and Taman. Now, I will say is a matter of time the things have been changed. But, my experience from politic and war in South Sudan will allow us not to happen again in feature, because the people who will look are powerless than is better to be silent. The leadership of Kiir wouldn’t take anywhere. My dream, peace in South Sudan will come after heavy fighting that will loose 100 of thousands people men, women, children, animals, and land / water will be contaminate and no one will repeate that.
The government of South sudan i am arguing them to support the apposition of ethiopia who fighting in the somali region in ethopia onlf….ogaden national liberation front that I’d all
The only people afraid of the Ethiopian military currently are the high ranking officials EPRDF members like President Mulatu Teshome , Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn and the Defense Miinster himself Siraj Fergessa all who are not from Tigray. These officials are afraid the Tigrayan controlled military will turn against them if they order the military to defend other parts of Ethiopia without paying the military same amount of payment the military is used to getting paid from UN peacekeeping missions . The military is spoiled by fighting for big salaries paid by UN and AU, now the military is not willing to move out of Tigray unless the three stooges raise their salary close to the amount the UN paid them.
Defense Minster Siraj was heard saying what guarantee does he have he will not be treated the same like Seye Abraha if he tries to engage in war with other countries defending the country even if it means moving some military out of TPLF interest areas, until now the military is currently based to only protect TPLF interests not interests of the whole Ethiopia. Siraj is afraid that he might be accused of crimes like ex-Defense Minster Seye Abraha was accused, if he don’t let the high ranking military officials get paid big raise in their salaries so they get motivated to fight areas that are not any interest of TPLF. More importantly Siraj is expected to get an official guarantee from the federal government, to not have any future accusations come to http://WWW.METEC.GOV.ET corporation corruption scandals so the whole militariy’s moral will not stay being at stake. .