JUBA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's main rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), has rejected proposed power sharing, even though the plan calls for reinstatement of their leader Riek Machar as deputy president.
The rebel group said in a statement on Monday evening that the proposed peace deal that was unveiled to them in neighboring Uganda on Saturday is centred on accommodating politicians and would not address the root causes of the South Sudan conflict.
"The SPLM/SPLA (IO) rejected the proposal as it only focuses on accommodation of politicians and ignores the radical reforms needed in order to effect fundamental change in our country," the rebel group said.
"The SPLM/SPLA (IO) is not waging a struggle for the position of first vice president, we are waging a protracted struggle for the future of our country," it added.
Another coalition of opposition groups has also rejected the proposed Entebbe proposal, arguing that the pact does not address the suffering of the people of South Sudan.
The nine-member South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) said on Monday that the Entebbe proposal does not address the root causes of the ongoing conflict, lacks inclusivity and is a repeat of the shattered 2015 peace agreement.
The proposed agreement calls for creation of four vice presidents positions, with former deputy president Riek Machar reinstated as first vice president, increment of government ministries from the current 30 to 45 and increasing parliamentary seats to 550.
The proposal also declined to grant the East African country federalism status and instead maintained the controversial 32 states.
Last month, President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and pledged to end the more than four years of fighting.
But the pact was broken just hours after it took effect and the parties have been trading blames with each other.
Khartoum is leading mediation efforts spearheaded by East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in a bid to find political solution to the South Sudan conflict.
South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.
The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.
