South Sudan slams DR Congo over rebel leader Machar exit
Elisabeth Janaina
South Sudan slams DR Congo over rebel leader Machar exit
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August 28, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government has criticised neigbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for allegedly permitting the use of its territory to be used to evacuate armed opposition leader and former first vice president, Riek Machar.
- South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, speaks to reporters in Jonglei state capital Bor on 25 December 2014 (ST)
The country’s information and broadcasting Minister Michael Makuei Lueth described evacuation of Machar from inside the country using an aircraft coming from Congo as a violation of international law and asked Congolese government through its embassy to explain why they could not inform them if they did not permit the evacuation plan.
The outspoken minister, in a statement on the state-owned SSBC, said "such act does not benefit either of the two countries as well as regional and global peace".
His comments follows a summon by the ministry of foreign Affairs of Congolese ambassador in Juba for a meeting at which the ministry officially protested what it calls border limitation by Congolese authorities. Machar fled the capital, Juba, after government forces attacked his residence following a clash between presidential guard force loyal to president and his (Machar) security details at the presidential palace in Juba, resulting in the death of over 200 soldiers on both sides.
Fearing for his life, he moved out of Juba hoping that the ceasefire he and president Salva Kiir declared would hold for him to return and resume his work at the presidency. But continued attacks by government forces pursuing him forced him to flee into DRC where the United Nations airlifted him after suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.
Commenting on Machar’s exit, the foreign ministry spokesman Mawien Makol said the ministry summoned the DRC ambassador in Juba to explain the action by his country. Makol claimed South Sudanese airspace was violated during the evacuation process.
“We summoned the Congolese Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because we were protesting on the border limitation that happened last week when the forces belonging to the former First Vice President crossed the border with him,” said Mawien.
“They [DRC] entered with a flight into the border without the knowledge of the government of the Republic of South Sudan, so that thing of course annoyed us and we have explained to him that this is what happened and he is going to convey the message to his country and that we were not informed about the coming into our border with the flight from Congolese. So they shouldn’t come to our airspace without getting permission from this country,” he added.
(ST)
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- 29 August 00:23, by Mr Point
The President and his government should help South Sudan more by working towards peace and economic development.
It is madness to keep plotting to kill the first Vice President of the transitional government of national unity according to the peace agreement Kiir signed.
Kiir dishonoured his office if he signed that agreement while plotting to murder his partner in peace - 29 August 00:24, by Akol Liai Mager
He is just in the next Northern Door. Secondly, how did he managed to exit in Juba in the first place? Thirdly Congo DR is being run by foreign powers and Kabila’s son has little room to maneuver in DRC, has only heard it from the news and has no knowledge on whether Machar actually entered and exit the Country. Fourthly, NIF regime in Khartoum did all the operation from lifting him off inside SS.
- 29 August 00:30, by Akol Liai Mager
NIF regime in Khartoum has been feeding this rebellious lover from A-Z being arms or politics just in revenge against South Sudanese 98.7% voting for Independence. This is all the Khartoum made with supports from the regional and international Allies and this what Mustereb al-Siddiq was doing in Juba as an Ambassador of NIF in Juba whilst Juba has to appoint a new Uni Graduate in Khartoum as Amb.
- 29 August 07:27, by Force 1
Riek Machar was allowed to get away from presidential palace at J1 to his home by president Kiir as a good gesture. We shouldn’t be surprise that he got away to Khartoum; he was given that green light to live from the beginning! If Riek is wise enough; then he should stay in Khartoum because he is not going to be lucky the third time around!
- 29 August 07:33, by Eastern
Force 1,
You asserted on this forum sonetime back that Dr Machar was dead. How naive could claim here that "he was given that green light to live from the beginning!" Given green light by who, if I may ask? Are you also say that Dr Machar is invincible? Lol!
- 29 August 07:44, by Force 1
Eastern;
You either don’t read or understand written English; what I said was; "Riek Machar is dead; unless I see him on live TV on BBC"! But according to your own inadequate comprehension of written English ; you think I said Riek is Dead!
- 29 August 06:26, by jubaone
Akol,
Perhaps the jienge intelligence malfunctioned. Are there any intelligent luakboys? Try again.
- 29 August 00:54, by Dinka-Defender-General
well, that’s what happen when we are not in control of our territory. I suggest this information two weeks after Machar left the town, but my suggestion was ignored. Remember UN is against success so they will do anything to serve their interest. Where did the guns in containers came from last time? DRC. Than it is not surprise to hear this. We should cut off our relationships with DRC.
- 29 August 03:07, by Akol Liai Mager
Well, General, cutting relationship is one among other options that South Sudan’s government can consider, but DRC is not managed by one Congolese authority. Instead, DRC is being managed by Kabila’s Son in some parts of Kinshasa, vast parts under UN and pockets are managed by Rebels like Riek himself. So, it will be hard for SS government to deal Kabila who has no knowledge about this saga.
- 29 August 03:27, by ngadodo
Minister Michael Makuei Lueth described evacuation of Machar from inside the country using an aircraft coming from Congo as a violation of international law. Mr. Michael Makuei, his really understanding international Law, somebody in risks member of UN will help that person that is not illegal in international. But what S. Sudan government doing it’s promoting Dr. Riek Machar to be President, mark
- 29 August 03:29, by ngadodo
marks my words if his not going dead he will, president of Republic of South Sudan.
- 29 August 04:31, by Hardlinner
Ngadodo. How will he do it. Firstly dinka and their allies are over 60% of national population. Therefore he will not win whether through election or rebellion. In fact he is more likely to die than become president. Laws of the universe can not be break. So riek with his primitive ngundeng prophecies are best children play book not reality.
- 29 August 04:32, by Hardlinner
Ngadodo. How will he do it. Firstly dinka and their allies are over 60% of national population. Therefore he will not win whether through election or rebellion. In fact he is more likely to die than become president. Laws of the universe can not be break. So riek with his primitive ngundeng prophecies are best children play book not reality.
- 29 August 04:33, by Deng II
Mark my words too, he (Machar) will never become president in South Sudan.
- 29 August 05:48, by ngadodo
Dr.RIEK Machar,if his not going to dead in the hand of Pual Maloung and Salva Kiir, he will going to be President of Republic of South Sudan. Through peace full talk, and arrange things fairly riek Machar will Elected through everyone in Republic of South Sudan including intellectually Dinka will voting to him. Everyone in south Sudan saw Leadership of President Salva Kiir, its illiterate leaders
- 29 August 05:58, by ngadodo
Leadership of President Salva Kiir, its illiterate leadership run by THE SUPREMACY OF JIENG COUNCIL OF ELDERS (JCE) IN SOUTH SUDAN
, not parliament of nation with creation of tribalism, his didn’t delivers good things more than 10 years, Juba National city doesn’t have basic need like good hospitals, sanctions, diseases like Vibrio cholera permanent in Juba.- 29 August 06:16, by Deng II
Ngadodo
We know that President Salva government is a corrupted Government including Machar when he was vice President,but Machar is traitor who killed memberous South Sudanese in 1991-2002. Corrupted traitor,Serial killer cannot be an alternative to corrupted patriotism.
- 29 August 07:12, by Agutthon
Dear all,
Three governments to blame
1. Goss to blame itself for allowing Riek to Exit
2. Blame DR Congo
3. Blame Sudan for treatment - 29 August 07:49, by Ayuiu Makuac Lam
All Congolese should be repatriated back to their country and no Congo citizen should be allowed into South Sudan territory.