SSOMA condemns Kiir’s ‘constitutional coup’, calls for new comprehensive peace process
The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) has condemned what it describes as President Salva Kiir’s “coup d’état on the current constitutional order”, following the dissolution of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and the establishment of a caretaker administration.
SSOMA says the move represents a grave political, security and constitutional crisis and has called for an urgent, genuine and inclusive national peace process to address the root causes of South Sudan’s conflict and chart a new path towards constitutional governance and sustainable peace.
The Alliance, comprising the National Salvation Front (NAS), the South Sudan Movement for Change (SSMC) and the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF), has consistently rejected the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), maintaining that it cannot deliver durable peace because it fails to address the root causes of the conflict.
It said the latest political developments reinforce its longstanding position that a fundamentally new peace process is required.
“SSOMA has consistently expressed its rejection of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan as a mechanism for resolving the conflict in South Sudan and to achieve durable peace,” the Alliance said.
It stressed that the current crisis cannot be resolved through unilateral political measures. Instead, SSOMA called for a nationally owned and comprehensive process involving all relevant South Sudanese stakeholders, with the aim of restoring political confidence, preserving peace and national unity, and protecting the interests of citizens.
Call for an urgent new peace process.
SSOMA called on South Sudanese stakeholders, the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations, neighbouring states and other international partners to urgently consult on the emerging constitutional and political crisis.
The Alliance said the current administration has no legitimate constitutional mandate and accused President Kiir of using state resources and the security apparatus to seize control of the constitutional order.
It called for an inclusive national dialogue involving political parties, opposition movements, civil society, faith-based groups, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
SSOMA said the dialogue should be convened in a neutral venue outside South Sudan and should establish a credible pathway towards constitutional governance, sustainable peace and democratic transition.
The Alliance further proposed using the experience and documentation of previous peace initiatives, including the R-ARCSS, Rome Peace Process, National Dialogue and Tumaini Peace Process, as building blocks for a new comprehensive peace process.
SSOMA rejects planned elections and inter-party dialogue
SSOMA also rejected the elections being planned by President Kiir and the SPLM-IG, arguing that elections must be preceded by the political, constitutional, security and institutional conditions necessary for a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process.
The Alliance said elections should form part of a genuine democratic transition rather than be used to legitimise the existing political order while leaving the root causes of the conflict unresolved.
SSOMA also rejected the ongoing inter-party dialogue, arguing that a process perceived as endorsing decisions already reached by one political party or grouping cannot adequately address the depth of South Sudan’s constitutional, political, security and humanitarian crisis.
The Alliance called for genuine dialogue in a neutral environment free from threats and intimidation.
Warning of further instability
SSOMA warned that the political crisis could further worsen South Sudan’s already difficult humanitarian situation, with continued displacement, food insecurity and significant humanitarian needs across the country.
The Alliance urged urgent regional and international action and warned that failure to resolve the crisis through an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue could lead to increased violence and insecurity, threatening the country’s stability and territorial cohesion.
Despite the deteriorating situation, SSOMA reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, inclusive and negotiated resolution of the South Sudan conflict.
The Alliance called on national, regional and international stakeholders to work collectively to prevent further deterioration of the country’s political, security and humanitarian situation.
The statement was signed by Amb. Emmanuel Ajawin, Secretary General of SSOMA and leader of the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF).
