October 19th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has urged South Sudan’s parties to the revitalized peace agreement to adhere to the November 12 dateline and form the long-awaited unity government.
The government signed a peace agreement with opposition groups in September 2018 to end the ongoing civil war and a thirty-six months unity government head by Kiir and Machar was supposed to be formed in May.
The parties then agreed in a meeting conducted in Addis Ababa on May 3 to postpone that action to November 12 because pre-transitional tasks necessary for government formation were not in place.
While the government says a government will be formed by November 12, opposition groups such as the SPLM-IO led by Dr. Riek Machar and NDM led by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin wants the action postponed until pending issues are resolved.
Kiir at some points threatened to form the government without Machar, something which has angered the West with the US and UK saying they will not recognize at government formed without Machar who is a main signatory.
In a statement issued on Friday, the AUPSC urged “all parties to unconditionally adhere to the deadline of 12 November 2019 for the formation of an inclusive Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), with a view to building trust and therefore, also urges the parties to amicably address all outstanding issues especially those relating to the transitional security arrangements, the number of states and boundaries.”
It added that the continental body “Underscores the necessity of ensuring that stipulated timelines in the R-ARCSS are respected, with a view to pave the way for the successful organization and holding of national elections at the end of the interim process, which would enable the people of South Sudan to elect political representatives of their choice.”
The body further welcomed “the face-to-face meetings held on the 9 and 11 September, between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar, and encourages the two leaders to persevere and continue engaging in genuine dialogue to address the challenges at hand.”
