JUBA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Tuesday said it will not accept the massive overhaul of the security apparatus and governance structure as demanded by an alliance of ten opposition parties as the warring parties prepare for the upcoming third round of talks in the Ethiopian capital.
James Wani Igga, South Sudan's Vice President under the 2015 power sharing agreement, said the opposition's demand to dissolve the army (SPLA) and police will bring more anarchy to the country in which four million people have already been displaced, and thousands killed since outbreak of the ongoing four years conflict.
"They (opposition) want as soon as they have signed the agreement the institutions like the army must be dissolved but if we dissolve the army right from that day then any wolf from any part of the world will just enter South Sudan to create anarchy," Igga said in Juba, urging patience and more time from regional and international partners on peace.
He said the government's position remains the same as in the 2015 peace agreement to integrate the armed opposition into the SPLA and embark on institutional reforms besides maintaining the 32 States increased from the previous 10 States prior to conflict.
"Our intention was like it was in the former agreement to carry out institutional reforms where we will have the rebel army integrated into the system on the basis of regional inclusivity and balancing," he said.
The opposition on Friday in a statement demanded the dissolution of the created 32 States back to the previous status quo and lean technical and hybrid government at federal and local government level.
"The reality about the States is that our people are clamoring for more States because they tasted the sweetness of power, development and especially services going nearer to them. If someone in Addis Ababa is asking for the States to be returned, that's very unpopular," said Igga,
He disclosed that reverting to the former 10 States would drive public discontent and force some disgruntled people to take up arms.
He also rejected the demand by the group for President Salva Kiir to resign upon signing the new peace road map mediated by the regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) arguing it contradicts the spirit of peaceful co-existence.
Igga instead urged the international community and also opposition groups to buy into the idea of conducting elections during the interim period to ensure smooth power transition.
"The problem is that all the blame of the world is thrown on us the government that we don't want peace. If you see the 13 conditions given by the opposition, some of them can be tolerated and have been signed by our people, but if you take five of them they are extremely difficult," Igga said.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to split within the SPLA, leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the conflict was weakened after the outbreak of renewed fighting in July 2016.
