JUBA, South Sudan (AP) – Lawmakers in South Sudan on Tuesday voted to extend the tenure of President Salva Kiir by three years, a move the government had said was necessary for stability amid an ongoing rebellion led by a former deputy president.
The measure, passed by more than two-thirds of the legislators on Tuesday, also extends the tenure of the legislature, lawmaker Thomas Kundu, who heads parliament’s information committee, told The Associated Press. He said the measure was necessary for peace and stability amid a violent rebellion led by Kiir’s former deputy, Riek Machar.
“We believe these three years will give a chance for peace so that all of us prepare to conduct a census and after which we can conduct free and fair elections,” Kundu said.
However, the opposition criticized the measure, saying it was meant to keep Kiir firmly in power.
“It means the government wants to cling onto power,” said lawmaker Onyoti Adigo, a member of the opposition in parliament who voted against the measure. “The people were not consulted. That’s why we are opposed to it.”