Kiir, Machar disagree on power sharing deal
Dr Riek Machar (L) and his team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the peace talks recently. PPU PHOTO
Kampala. A cloud of uncertainty hovers over the South Sudan peace efforts as president Salva Kiir and his rival Dr Reik Machar failed to reach consensus on how to share power in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
A spokesperson for Dr Machar said at the weekend the rebel leader had held back at a proposal by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) of a power sharing deal with his former boss as a key solution to the civil war.
Ms Ann Norman of the US-based Norman Communications handling public relations for Dr Machar on Saturday also further accused President Museveni of being the force behind the deal whose veiled purpose, she said, is to keep Mr Kiir in power.
Igad “is imposing a solution, no discussion, no negotiating,” and “they have also said there will be no more discussion, the two parties must accept or face immediate action.”
On Thursday shortly before the commencement of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Igad mediators presented a principle agreement document to both Kiir and Machar to sign spelling out terms of a unity government.
The document reportedly gave president Kiir and his allies 60 per cent, rebels/Machar 30 per cent and other forces 10 per cent in the power sharing deal.
The two gentlemen, however, declined to put signature to the paper, as discussions on the matter hit a snag and were carried forward to Saturday.
However, reports indicated that the talks had been pushed to Sunday.
By press time yesterday, no plausible development was reported but unconfirmed reports hinted on the parties working to make adjustments on the document.
Igad member heads of State, including President Museveni and Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta had proposed that Dr Machar returns as vice president, a position he occupied previously until December 15, 2013, when hostilities between the two leaders ensued.
