South Sudan President replaces rival as Vice President amid violence

By

Dukhan Jundit

Salva Kiir, the President of South Sudan relieved his Vice President and rival Dr Riek Machar-Teny of his position following recent violence between the government and opposition, replacing him with Gen Taban Deng Gai.

The decree was read out on South Sudan radio Monday evening.

What does this appointment mean to the world?

The move is a clear block to the intervention of ongoing regional forces due to be sent by IGAD and backed up by the UN and the international community.

This does not only block, but also exposes to the world superpowers, namely the US and UK, in addition to Norway, the African Union (AU) and IGAD, the country of being weak to control and manage the crisis.

In my article published earlier this month I indicated that peace will never be implemented because the Partners involved may fail to abide with the agreement document.

While Dr Riek Machar-Teny was in the United States last year, all foreign policy makers and ambassadors were disappointed when he said that going to Juba with small forces would just sign his death certificate.

But on 8th July, as the world was watching, Dr Riek Machar-Teny was almost assassinated when bodyguards of both leaders fought each other, but the world did nothing.

As of now the violence is ongoing.

This appointment of Gen Taban Deng Gai as First Vice President is a declaration of full scale war and long civil suffering in South Sudan.

The international community needs to agree on a new mechanism in order to trust South Sudan.

Dukhan Jundit

Dukhan is a freelance journalist in South Sudan having contributed to numerous publications and worked as News Editor for InterNews Radio in the Upper Nile State previously.