September 26, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government under the leadership of resident Salva Kiir has dismissed opposition efforts aimed at introducing democratic reforms as “wishful thinking”, describing it as a “a political ploy to install a tribal government”. The South Sudanese government under the leadership of president Salva Kiir has been battling to contain an armed rebellion in the country since December 2013 (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri) Speaking to reporters at the closing session of the seventh speakers’ forum on Thursday, cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro, told reporters that any moves to replace an elected government by force was unconstitutional and unacceptable. He referred to the government’s efforts to quash an armed rebellion led by former vice-president Riek Machar, which erupted in mid-December last year after a political rift in the country’s ruling party (SPLM) plunged the country into violence. “Our objective in fighting this war is simple and has been clearly stated from day one and it will remain so. This government was democratically elected by the people of this country and the time for elections has not yet come,” said Lomuro. “The people and their government have the right to defend it and protect the constitution,” he added. Lomuro, who also heads the South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF), one of the political parties in the government, expressed his party’s unwavering support to the government. “You know very well the level of damage and destruction this senseless war of Riek Machar and his group has caused this country. It has returned us to square one and we will have to start from scratch again like we did in 2005,” said Lomuro, referring to the end of the more than two-decade-long civilw ar with the norty, which ultimately led to the South breaking away.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 11:56:19 +0000
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