Juba, February 13, 2016 (GSN) - Gen. James Wani Igga was sworn-in on Friday a day after his relieve and re-appointment to the new post. President Kiir relieved Igga on Thursday as the second top man in the government and re-appointed him in the third top position as a Vice President in a presidential decree number 61 a decision that Igga has welcomed.
Meanwhile, President Kiir Mayardit invited Dr Riek Machar, the country’s new first Vice President to report to Juba immediately in order to run his prerogative duties for the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) that was signed by the two parties in August 2015.
Mr. Kiir has also met with opposition political parties that include Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, Martin Elia Lomuro and the former political detainees represented by Mr. Deng Alor Kuol to discuss issues connected to the immediate formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).
Dr Lomuro, the minister for Cabinet Affairs who represented other political parties in the country, congratulated Salva Kiir Mayardit for reappointing James Wani Igga as Vice President and welcomed the appointment of Dr Riek Machar to the post of the first Vice President as per the peace agreement.
Lomuro said that appointment of an SPLM-IO leader marks the beginning of real peace in South Sudan and explained that the government is serious in implementing the peace agreement that was signed by the two parties in August.
Mr. Igga said that for peace to return to the country and for the people of South Sudan to stop suffering he has accepted for the second time to give up his higher post and accommodate Dr Machar to allow for peace.
President Kiir has ordered for the withdrawal of the SPLA forces in Juba city to outside garrisons about 25 kilometers away from Juba town centre as per the IGAD sponsored agreement. It is not yet clear as to when Dr Riek Machar will report to Juba to take up his position.
