SOUTH SUDAN: President Kiir offers to Appoint Machar Second Vice President

Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan

South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir on Sunday said opposition leader, Riek Machar
could become the country’s second vice-president, if he agrees to join his
government.

Speaking at Juba airport on arrival from the United States where he attended
the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, Kiir disclosed that the international community
had demanded for the creation of a prime minister’s position, something he
opposed.

“They [international community] said what should we do? How do we bring peace?
I said if you want these people to join the government, I can expand my
government and bring people that I want to work with,” said the president.

“If Riek Machar wants to be in the government, I can create for him a position.
I will bring Riek to be second vice president after vice president James Wani
Igga,” he added.

The South Sudanese leader, however, stressed that Machar was only capable of
succeeding him as president upon winning an election.
 

Riek Machar, Former Vice President  of South Sudan

“If he [Machar] does not want [to be second vice president], let him stay
outside there and wait for the elections. If he defeats me in the election, he
will be the president,” said Kiir as the crowd applauded.

Machar, the country’s longest serving vice-president, was sacked in July 2013
after openly declared his intention to challenge Kiir for the ruling party
(SPLM) chairmanship. Several disagreements within the party later culminated
into violence, nearly escalating into full-scale war.

The opposition announced on Saturday that they had resumed talks with the
government delegation as the sixty day ultimatum agreed on by both warring
parties elapsed without any tangible results.

Leaders from the East African regional bloc (IGAD) vowed to impose tough
measures should any of the warring sides frustrate the ongoing negotiations
seeking to end the nearly eight month-old conflicts.