NAIROBI (4 Aug.)

A senior SPLM-IO official has turned down President’s Kiir decree appointing him as the Presidential Adviser on Good Governance and Rule of Law in the unity government.

Ramadan Hassan Laku, who was in charge of the Equatoria dossier, told Radio Tamazuj that he decided to turn down the appointment recommended to President Salva Kiir by the newly appointed First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

Laku confirmed that he is till loyal to former first vice president and prominent opposition leader Riek Machar. “I wanted to apologize to the people of South Sudan because I cannot assume this position now” said Laku.

“My position is to stand with the implementation of the peace agreement in a good way, and I am supporting the legitimate party which signed the agreement “he added.

The SPLM-IO official pointed out that the current government in Juba will not bring about lasting peace in South Sudan, saying he doesn’t want to be part of the ongoing suffering of citizens in the country.

On Tuesday evening, President Kiir issued a republican decree appointing three presidential advisers recommended by the new First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to serve the unity government.