The Office of the President on Friday explained that SPLM leaders, formerly detained in Juba after mid December crisis are not allowed to participate in the peace talks because they are mere politicians.
Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny told the press that the degree of the seven former detainees’ participation in inciting political instability in the country varies and that the government was dealing with what he termed ‘coup master minders and executors’.
He added that the former Cabinet Ministers: Deng Alor, Kosti Manibe, John Luk, Gier Chuang, Madut Biar, Cirino Hiteng and former Lakes Governor Chol Tong would only participate in a wider constitutional conference in Juba not Addis Ababa.
Mr Ateny said the presidency received President Obama’s order on Friday morning and that the cabinet was studying how to respond to it.
Government’s stance to exclude the seven politicians prompted the United States government to issue executive order of individuals’ and entities’ sanctions in South Sudan including visa bans and assets freezing.