President Kiir To ‘peacefully handover power’ He said
President of the Republic of South Sudan has dismissed claims that he has refused to step down and leave others to rule.
According to the Transitional Consitution of South Sudan, a general elections was supposed to be held in 2015.
But the years that followed were characterized by violent clashes across the country with the opposition demanding that President Kiir resign. They said his tenure has been characterized by rampant corruption, underdevelopment and stifling of democratic space, a claim the government strongly denies.
This was however later addressed through a negotiated settlement in 2015, and recently in 2018.
Kiir will continue to remain as the President until a general election is held in South Sudan.
But the President said he has no desire to cling to power.
He says that those who take up arms to wage wars with the intentions of violently removing him from power are the ones prolonging his stay.
Kiir said those calling for him to step down should use constitutional means, and other forms of democratic processes practiced across the world.
The constitution states that the President can only be removed from office if his term expires, resign in a public address to the people through the National Legislative Assembly; gets impeached in accordance with the provisions of the constitution; has a mental or physical incapacity based on an official medical report submitted by the Medical Commission to the Assembly for information; or death.
President Kiir said he is ready to handover power willingly, but only through a democratic election that reflects the will of the people.
The transitional constitution also says any person aggrieved by an act of the President may contest such act before the Supreme Court, if the alleged act involves a violation of this Constitution, a state constitution, the Bill of Rights, or the decentralized system of government; or contest before any other competent court of law, if the allegation is based on any other legal grounds.
Source: SSBC
