02-16-2015, 03:58 PM |
Voice of America
Voice of America
Registered: 01-13-2014
Total Posts: 88
|
|
South Sudan Leader Seeks Extension of Mandate
|
03:58 PM Feb, 16 2015 Sudanese Online Voice of America- My Library at SudaneseOnline
Peter Clottey February 15, 2015 11:07 AM South Sudan’s government plans to send a proposal to parliament on Tuesday for a constitutional amendment to extend President Salva Kiir’s term of office, presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny said. The move comes after the cabinet called off elections originally scheduled for June. The vote is now expected in 2017. Citing the conflict between government troops and rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, Ateny said the vote needed to be postponed until the conflict is resolved to ensure citizens are not disenfranchised. Attempt to extend power, critics say Critics said the move is aimed at extending Kiir's power, a charge Ateny rejects. “[President Kiir] is responding to what the international community has earlier said and advised him to do so, so that he allows peace to happen and this is exactly what he is doing,” Ateny said. “He has to wait until such a time that is better for South Sudanese to go for elections … it does not [amount] to any dictatorship at all.” Analysts said the proposed amendment could complicate peace negotiations between the administration in Juba and the rebels. Ateny disagreed, saying the government is committed to finding a solution to the conflict. “It would not undermine the peace process. The government negotiators are on their way to Addis Ababa [Ethiopia] to attend the talks at the agenda for the next phase of the talks are supplied,” Ateny said. “President Salva Kiir and his government have made it clear that there is no alternative to peace and this is what is going to happen.” “If [a] peace agreement is signed any time before July this year, then the arrangement will undo whatever constitutional arrangement that has been done,” he added. Challenge Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, a leading member of the rebel group loyal to Machar condemned the proposal to extend President Kiir’s mandate. He says the move demonstrates the government’s lack of commitment to resolve the conflict. “There is nobody that can [postpone] elections anywhere in the world and give the elected president legitimacy to continue for another two years. This is illegal, it is unacceptable and it is very clear that Salva after May 21 2015 he is not going to be an elected leader and he is going to be illegitimate,” said Gatkuoth. But he said there is a need for the government to ensure peace is restored before an election is held. “The focus should be bring peace to this country, reuniting the people and have justice and accountability for those who have committed atrocities, and then an agreement which will usher this transitional government to power, so, that it [leads the country] until the next election,” Gatkuoth. Clottey interview with Ateny Wek Ateny, spokesperson for South Sudan president Salva Kiir Clottey interview with Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, leading member of South Sudan rebels
Topics related to the subject or the author
- Another South Sudan Newspaper Ordered to Close 02-04-15, 04:58 PM, Voice of America
- Former Sudan Lost Boy Becomes Chess Master in NYC 01-30-15, 04:46 PM, Voice of America
- 8 Sudanese Opposition Parties to Skip Talks With President 01-21-15, 04:12 PM, Voice of America
- Sudanese Opposition Party to Boycott April Presidential Election 01-14-15, 04:52 PM, Voice of America
- China Mediates Peace Talks on South Sudan 01-13-15, 03:48 PM, Voice of America
- Sudan Artist Says He'll Keep Cartooning Despite Threats 01-10-15, 03:13 PM, Voice of America
- New Fighting Rocks South Sudan Oil States 01-06-15, 04:29 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Rebels Accuse Army of Killing Civilians 12-30-14, 02:58 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Approves $517M for 2015 Vote 12-27-14, 01:52 PM, Voice of America
- Sudan School Becomes Target of Aerial Attacks 12-19-14, 02:05 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Conflict Enters Second Year 12-16-14, 02:35 PM, Voice of America
- Rwanda Genocide Courts Hold Lessons for South Sudan 10-15-14, 09:31 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Lawmakers Pass Controversial Security Bill 10-10-14, 04:08 PM, Voice of America
- At Least 3 Dead as South Sudan Soldiers Rampage 10-08-14, 07:38 PM, Voice of America
- US Pledges Another $83 Million for South Sudan 09-30-14, 01:23 PM, Voice of America
- Kiir: Unwavering Effort to End South Sudan War 09-29-14, 02:33 PM, Voice of America
- Scores Killed in South Sudan Fighting as Peace Talks Resume 09-23-14, 04:22 PM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan President Seeks Meeting with Sudan’s Leader 09-15-14, 05:07 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Journalist Detained for Weeks Without Charge 09-11-14, 04:57 PM, Voice of America
- In South Sudan, Few Take their Money to the Bank 08-30-14, 03:29 PM, Voice of America
- US Ambassador Prepares 'Bittersweet' Departure from South Sudan 08-23-14, 04:49 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan President Fires John Garang's Widow 08-21-14, 03:53 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Ex-VP Rejects President Kiir’s Offer to End Conflict 08-21-14, 02:42 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Army, Rebels Swap Accusations over New Truce Violations 05-15-14, 05:27 PM, Voice of America
- AU Commission Hopeful on Resolving South Sudan’s Crisis 05-01-14, 06:02 PM, Voice of America
- US, Kenya, Ethiopia Agree South Sudan Needs Legitimate Stabilizing Force 05-01-14, 05:59 PM, Voice of America
- UN Criticizes S. Sudan Leaders Over Famine Response 04-30-14, 06:15 PM, Voice of America
- Group Petitions AU to Mediate South Sudan Negotiations 04-29-14, 02:06 PM, Voice of America
- Child Malnutrition Spikes in South Sudan 04-22-14, 04:40 PM, Voice of America
- UN Accuses South Sudan Rebels of Targeted Ethnic Killings 04-22-14, 04:29 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Urges Sudan to Stop Attacks By Armed Groups 04-21-14, 03:14 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Opposition Says it Has Seized Bentiu - Again 04-16-14, 06:59 PM, Voice of America
- US Threat of South Sudan Sanctions Not a Hollow Warning, Envoy Says 04-15-14, 04:20 PM, Voice of America
- Filmmaker Revives Sudan’s movie industry 04-12-14, 04:19 PM, Voice of America
- US Sanctions Don't Worry South Sudan Government, Rebels 04-11-14, 04:57 PM, Voice of America
- Four Million Sudanese Face Food Insecurity 04-10-14, 07:53 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Demands Apology Over Western Diplomats' Letter 04-04-14, 02:42 PM, Voice of America
- Obama Signs Executive Order as South Sudan Accuses US of Meddling 04-04-14, 02:33 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Peace Talks Suspended Again 04-01-14, 05:34 PM, Voice of America
- Western Nations Condemn Rights Abuses, Threats to UN in South Sudan 04-01-14, 05:32 PM, Voice of America
- Germany Announces $13 Million in Aid for South Sudan 03-28-14, 05:57 PM, Voice of America
- No Evidence Ties 4 South Sudan Politicians to 'Coup' Bid, Court Told 03-27-14, 03:30 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Receives ‘Backing’ From International Partners 03-26-14, 02:42 PM, Voice of America
- Prosecution Claims Four South Sudanese Plotted to Topple Kiir 03-23-14, 06:11 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Treason Trial Resumes 03-21-14, 02:58 PM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan President Restores Government Ministries 03-19-14, 04:51 PM, Voice of America
- A young Sudanese poet satisfies hope for better days 03-15-14, 08:29 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan 'Tragedy' Cannot be Resolved on Battlefield: US Ambassador 03-15-14, 08:26 PM, Voice of America
- E. African Leaders to Decide Details on S. Sudan Stabilization Force 03-13-14, 01:51 AM, Voice of America
- Ethiopia: South Sudan Should Not be Another Failed State 03-11-14, 08:34 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Conflict Erases Gains in Food Security, UN Agencies Say 03-11-14, 02:01 AM, Voice of America
- New Camp in Juba Will House 10,000 South Sudan Displaced 03-06-14, 05:16 PM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan: Fighting at Army Base in Capital 'Contained' 03-05-14, 08:56 PM, Voice of America
- US Lawmaker to Obama: Phone Kiir on South Sudan Crisis 03-04-14, 07:30 PM, Voice of America
- Sudan Sees Key Role in Breaking South Sudan Conflict Stalemate 01-21-14, 06:19 PM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan’s Displaced: Running from Violence, Longing for Peace 01-13-14, 02:47 PM, Voice of America
- Uganda Lawmakers Demand Answers about Troops in South Sudan 01-02-14, 04:26 PM, Voice of America
- Former South Sudan Official wants to be Ruling Party’s Presidential Ca 11-27-13, 05:53 AM, Voice of America
- Former South Sudan Official wants to be Ruling Party’s Presidential Ca 11-27-13, 05:52 AM, Voice of America
- Former South Sudan Official wants to be Ruling Party’s Presidential Ca 11-27-13, 05:51 AM, Voice of America
- Civil Servants Unpaid as S. Sudan Struggles to Repay Loans 11-22-13, 02:23 AM, Voice of America
- Violence, Floods Impact Millions in S. Sudan: UN Official 11-21-13, 02:27 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan on Track to Lift Austerity Measures: Kiir 11-17-13, 04:03 AM, Voice of America
- Illegal Logging Threatens South Sudan Forests 11-15-13, 05:05 AM, Voice of America
- After South Sudanese Return Home, Sudan Transit Camp to Close 11-14-13, 06:06 AM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan Central Bank Backpedals on Currency Devaluation 11-14-13, 06:02 AM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Fights to Implement Rule of Law 11-02-13, 05:38 PM, Voice of America
- South Sudan Floods Displace Tens of Thousands 09-12-13, 03:36 PM, Voice of America
- China Pledges $43 Million Grant for South Sudan Mining 09-10-13, 03:41 PM, Voice of America
- S. Sudan Lawmakers Approve Parliamentary Speaker 09-04-13, 02:37 PM, Voice of America
- Bashir, Kiir Pledge to Open New Page in Sudan Ties 09-03-13, 06:34 PM, Voice of America
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|