
South Sudan: National Democratic Movement (NDM) – Press Statement (23.02.2020)





Well, the celebrations and the praises has been spread around as today on the 22nd February 2020 the Revitalized-Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) are inaugurated, as yesterday the decrees was put out and the people from all the various of fraction accordingly to the Revitalized Agreement for a Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018.
So, today is a big day. Only four short years of the last inauguration of the Transitional Government of National Unity on the 26th April 2016. Therefore, this time its even more dire to set the record straight, compromise and ensure the prolonged peace. As the last endeavour opened up new wounds and battles between the rebels and the government. Which is today putting all that behind to form the R-TGoNU.
What is happening today is a big feat, it is something that should be celebrated and give hope. Even as bloated as the cabinet is and that there are 5 Vice-Presidents. Still, if that what it takes to have peace. Let it be and then change the system later on. Configure the Parliament and the Cabinet as deemed fit over time. This is a transitional government and that has to work out all the obstacles ahead and also work together to build the Republic.
The cabinet is filled 35 ministers and 10 deputies. All shared across the board. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Government (SPLM-IG) have 20 ministers and 5 deputies. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) have 9 ministers and 3 deputies. South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have 3 ministers and 1 deputy. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Former Political Detainees (SPLM-FDs) have 2 ministers and Other Political Parties (OPP) have one minister.
Plus the cabinet, the National Assembly will be filled with 550 Members of Parliament. Clearly have a big representation from across the 10 states with the 10 governors and three administrators of the three special administrative areas. We can see there is a lot people gaining and getting positions out of it.
Hopefully that buys peace. Buy time and also get them all to work together towards a common goal. That they implement protocol and structures, that they are leaving egos behind and try to finds ways for lasting peace. The TGoNU of 2016 went into a blister, but we can hope this doesn’t happen now in 2020. Because, its the same gentlemen in power of the biggest outfits. They know the cost and troubles ahead.
The parties, the stakeholders and the international community have to support all efforts. Even if they are going slow. Because, it is better like this, than the prospects of another civil war. Which will only create more havoc and suffering. More pain and lack of a good government for the citizens, as the battlefields and the guns blazing will overtake the society again.
The gentlemen in power. Need to talk, sit down and work things out. This being President Salva Kiir, but also Dr. Riek Machar, all the Vice-Presidents and the whole cabinet. They are forced to work together and find a way for a better tomorrow.
Today is the day to celebrate, but also to give them time. Even if they had a long time getting here. Because, they need it and the public has to see it. Since, if they are forced to quickly and disagreeing. These men are used to take it to the field, instead of negotiating. That is why they need new methods and new measures to secure a peaceful outcome. Where they are not promoting war-games, but instead building the state together. Peace.






In Khartoum today, the people again went to the streets to demonstrate. Because, the Sovereign Council has decided to retire the army officials who was in support of the revolution last year. The Transitional Military Council (TMC), the armed wing of the transitional government have decided to purge the army and also elevate itself. This causes outrage, as this is yet another soft takeover and not a promising step towards a civilian government, which was the whole idea behind the revolution in the first place.
Today, the authorities have used live bullets, violence and massive amount tear-gas to rid of the new surge of revolutionaries in the streets. Also, injuries are being made to the civilians and again random arrests of the ones protesting. Surely, this is back ot the old days.
The news that sparked this:
“In a statement released on Tuesday, the army spokesman Amer Mohamed al-Hassan said the retirees’ list has been done with high professionalism” His statement was published after the circulation in the social media of three separate lists seen by Sudan Tribune with “top secret” including 15 sub lieutenants, 29 lieutenant commanders and 35 colonels. Among the 15 sub-lieutenants appears the name of Mohamed Siddiq Ibrahim Ahmed, who was the first military officer to join the protesters outside the army headquarter during the first week of April before al-Bashir’s ouster” (Sudan Tribune – ‘Sudanese army retires junior-rank officers’ 18.02.2020).
While that has happen. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) of the Sovereign Council has promoted themselves. On the 19th February 2020, this was reported:
Former head of General Intelligence Agency (GIS) Abubaker Damblad has been promoted to Lieutenant General.
Member of the Sovereignty Council, Yassir Al-Atta has been promoted to Lieutenant General.
Member of the Sovereignty Council, Shams El-Deen Al-Kabashi has been promoted to Lieutenant General.
Head of the General Intelligence Agency (GIS) Jamal Abdelmajeed has been promoted to Lieutenant General.
Head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdulfatah Al-Burhan has been promoted to Marshal.
This is surely again a sign of troubling time ahead. As the TMC wing of the Sovereign Council have been working to consolidate power. They wouldn’t have done that this way, if they didn’t believe they could sustain it now. The agreement of the trial period of three years would give the TMC time to change and also get more power by softly making decisions. Which they have now done by getting rid of the ones who supported the revolution. While promoting the ones whose loyal to the new leadership and who will follow Al-Burhan. That is the message of the acts made.
This is why people are going into the streets, as the revolution wasn’t made for the army and their ranks, but for the public and their will for a civilian government. Seems like the TMC forgot that piece of information or neglected it. Because, power is enticing and rewarding. Peace.



