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Radio broadcasts called for calm after Salva Kiir suspended his cabinet and his main political rival/AFP

Africa

South Sudan calls for calm after president sacks cabinet

Machar, from the Dok Nuer people from the key oil producing Unity state, is a controversial figure for many, but commands loyalty among many branches of the Nuer, which form an integral part of the footsoldiers of the new nation’s ex rebel army.

He has made no secret of his desire to challenge Kiir for the presidency in elections due in 2015.

However, he fought on both sides of the civil war, leading a splinter SPLM faction that sided with Khartoum, battling troops commanded by Kiir, who comes from the Dinka people.

Machar’s troops are accused of a brutal massacre in the ethnic Dinka town of Bor in 1991.

“This latest move is part of an ongoing struggle in the highest levels of South Sudan’s political leadership,” said Akshaya Kumar of the US based Enough Project, which campaigns for peace in the Sudans.

Last month, Machar led talks with Sudan’s President Omar al Bashir to ease tensions after Khartoum threatened to halt oil flows worth billions of dollars to both impoverished neighbours.

Amum was the top negotiator with arch foe Sudan at long running African Union mediated talks over a raft of issues left unresolved at independence, including border demarcation and oil exports, currently under threat of suspension again, this time by Khartoum.

The suspended party leader is to be also investigated for alleged “mismanagement of the party” by a parliamentary committee, the presidential orders broadcast on state radio said.

However, Khartoum said the suspensions would not impact oil and security pacts reached between them.

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