In a very strongly-worded speech to the parliament in Juba on Thursday, South Sudanese president Salva Kiir said any interim government without him or the elected national assembly is “a red line.”
Kiir accused unnamed countries of intending to “dismantle” his county and the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
“They intend to constitute a transitional government without me as the elected President. They want to bring somebody of their choice to be the president of that transitional government.
That is a red line,” said Kiir, attracting a standing ovation from the lawmakers who interrupted his speech with songs saying “we shall never.”
“The whole intention is to dismantle the SPLM which they believe has become a very stronger monster in South Sudan,” he added amidst applause.
Different sources say western countries including the USA were pushing for the designation of the former SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum as interim president to implement constitutional and political reforms.
Kiir’s remarks are the first public signal of his frustration from these speculations.
The mediation was keen to invite a group of SPLM political leading members including Amum who are opposed to Kiir’s “failed government” and the “doomed armed rebellion” led by Riek Machar.
sudantribune
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