SOUTH SUDAN REBELS FORM 'LEADERSHIP BODY'

Juba, SOUTH SUDAN

South Sudan rebel groups that are not part of the September 2018 peace deal have formed a three-member "leadership council".

The new body was unveiled this evening during a meeting in the Netherlands.

Emmanuel Ajawin, secretary general of the opposition coalition South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA), told Radio Tamazuj: "The leadership council will be led by leaders of SSNDA,  Real SPLM and SSUF/A. The three leaders of the three opposition groups will work together to lead the new body." 

The opposition South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA), a coalition of non-signatory groups, is led by NAS leader General Thomas Cirillo.

The new council, made up of three holdout opposition groups, was formed today, according to Ajawin.

The opposition official said the leadership council was tasked to effectively engage the international community on peace issues including lobbying for diplomatic support.

Ajawin added that some components of the new coalition will continue the armed struggle against the South Sudanese government.

“We agreed that the current situation in South Sudan needs political solutions. Our position is that the military solution is not the only way for peace in our country,” he said.

“The possibility of negotiating with the government is there, but we have not yet discussed the issue extensively. We believe that any political problem needs to be solved through political means,” he added.

Ajawin, who also leads a faction of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), said the meeting resolved to form a "strong coalition".

He pointed out that the gathering that lasted for two days in The Hague is a major step toward unifying the opposition that is fighting to oust President Salva Kiir.

Ajawin revealed that Mr Pagan Amum, who formerly served as the ruling SPLM party’s secretary general, has formed a new organisation calling itself Real SPLM.

The meeting was attended by General Thomas Cirillo, Pagan Amum, General Oyai Deng Ajak, Cirino Hiteng, Sunday de John, Emmanuel Ajawin, Thomas Tut and other opposition figures.