Taban Deng Gai replaces armed opposition leader Riek Machar as acting First Vice President.
Signs and hopes of peace in South Sudan brought about by the return of rebel leader Riek Machar to the capital Juba and the formation of a unity government in which he occupied the post of First Vice President are fast eroding. The ceasefire in the fighting that erupted between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader and First Vice President Machar early this month brought a sigh of relief.
However, the peace and stability situation deteriorated when Riek Machar escaped from the country after the fighting in the capital, Juba in which government forces bombed his house. The confusing situation was on Saturday, July 23, 2016 further compounded when a faction of Riek Machar’s armed opposition replaced him as First Vice President of South Sudan with Taban Deng Gai. Mr Taban will serve until Machar returns to the capital, Juba.
Riek Machar who is said to be hiding was replaced when President Kiir’s ultimatum for him to return to Juba on Saturday afternoon expired without him yielding. Machar’s Chief of Staff, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, New York Times reported, disclosed that Taban Deng acted as the rebel’s chief negotiator during peace talks.
There is now uncertainty in Machar’ armed opposition as his spokesman, Nyarji Roman who is also in hiding, said the replacement of Machar is a "conspiracy" to overthrow him, The Wall Street Journal stated. Before the replacement, Machar the previous day, July 22, 2016 fired Taban for holding unilateral negotiations with President Kiir.
The two senior officials of the armed opposition were said to have disagreed over an African Union intervention force to deploy in Juba. Taban has also rejected Machar's support for the force but Machar’s supporters say he cannot safely return to Juba until such an outside force secures the city.
Government spokesman Michael Makuei said Kiir's side would have "no problem" if the opposition decided to replace Machar, New York Times reported.
