Page 19 - Nile Explorer Issue 12

FULL TEXT:

KIIR’S SPEECH AT THE

CONCLUSION OF THE

NATIONAL DIALOGUE

CONFERENCE

November 17, 2020.

steemed delegates to this historic
ENational Conference Excellences the
Vice Presidents of the Republic of South Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Sudan, up consultations.
Honorable Speaker of the Transitional overcoming doubts cast on the value The Revitalized Agreement on the other
National Legislative Assembly Rt. of National Dialogue certain quarters hand, came as a result of talks between
Honorable Speaker of the Council of from the star and for availing both political elites, which make it narrower
States All Senior Government Officials, material and technical resources to in scope. However, the Agreement has
Your Excellency Molana Abel Alier Kwai support us. Specifically, I would like constitutional sanctity that the National
Kut, Co-Chair of the National Dialogue to thank the Japanese Government for Dialogue lacks, despite its popular
Your Excellency Angelo Beda, Co-Chair their contribution and UNDP for the legitimacy. Therefore, we should not
of the National Dialogue The Rapporteur stewardship it provided during this attempt to replace the agreement
of the National Dialogue,Hon. Bona period. By the way, the Japanese are with the consensus reached through
Malwal Madur Ring, among few donors we have that do not the National Dialogue, but rather use
Religious Leaders and Members of attach strings to their support. the National Dialogue as a guide to
National Dialogue Steering Committee Last but not the least, I would like to enrich the forthcoming Permanent
and Secretariat Members of Diplomatic thank you, the delegates who travelled Constitution-making process that the
corps, Representatives of AU, UN and to Juba from different corners of our Revitalized Peace Agreement mandates.
R-JMEC Distinguish Special Envoys country to participate in this conference. Esteemed delegates,
from the region Ladies and Gentlemen. Your presence here signals your desire to the last four years of this national
I greet you all in the name of our country, contribute towards shaping the future of
the Republic of South Sudan. your country. Let me also congratulate conversation have not been easy. At the
On December 14 2016, I had the you for candidly sharing your views at beginning of National Dialogue, I was
honour to launch this great event whose grassroots, at regional conferences and accused of using this process to dodge
conclusion we are witnessing today. here at the national conference. responsibility of finding a peaceful
When this work started, not many The issues you raised deserve full settlement to the conflict. Others,
people thought it would arrive at where attention of your leadership. Ladies and objected to this process on the basis that
we are today: sharing views gathered gentlemen, your views on numerous it was not inclusive enough, despite the
from the grassroots in the duration of issues affecting our country at multiple fact that the process was designed to
almost four years on a national platform. levels: on governance, security, economy reach our communities where-ever they
What this process has achieved is and social cohesion have been heard. reside.
commendable and for this, I would like There is no doubt that the outcome of Today, the presence of these delegates
to thank the national co-chairs, Molana National Dialogue represents the views in this hall, and the rich discussion
Abel Alier Kwai Kur and Hon. Angelo of a broad cross-section of our society that went on from the start of National
Beda for steady leadership they have on the issues raised. This means there is Dialogue, and in the last three weeks
provided during this process. I would no question about the legitimacy of this here in Juba, clearly demonstrates that
also like to thank Members of Steering process. the accusations labeled against me and
Committee led by Hon. Bona Malwal With this in mind, we need to remind the process have turned out to be false.
Madur and Amb. Dr. Francis Mading ourselves that what has been produced in The organizers of this national
Deng for the incredible support they this process must be harmonized with the conversation, for example, have fulfilled
have given in guiding this process. Permanent Constitution making process, their mandate as demonstrated by the
Let me also recognize the Secretariat which is provided for in the Revitalized cross-section of our society represented
of the Steering Committee for their Peace Agreement. The Revitalized in this hall. The views expressed by you,
efforts in ensuring grassroots views were Peace Agreement is not merely an the delegates throughout this process,
gathered, documented and shared in integral part of our Constitution, it is have nor been approving of any party
this conference. Those involved in this in essence our fundamental law itself, including, the SPLM that was accused of
process from its inception know that we and all other processes, including the initiating National Dialogue to save its
have received substantial support from National Dialogue, must ultimately be soul. The Peace Process I was accused of
our regional and international partners. reconciled with it. Yes, the National replacing with the National Dialogue is
I would like to thank these partners for Dialogue has been broad-based bottom- now under implementation.

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