October 30th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The European Union (EU) urged in a statement on Monday South Sudan parties to the revitalized peace agreement to sit and resolve the dispute over the number and boundaries of states.
The issue is one of the sticking points to the formation of what would officially be the ‘Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) due in November.
President Salva Kiir wants the government formed in November and would then resolve the issues which are now pending such as the number of states and the security arrangements.
SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny meanwhile says he will not be a party to the government that Kiir said will be formed in November because in ensuring a stable transition, a unified army, police and national security service must be in place.
“The representations of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in Juba echo the UN Security Council in its Presidential Statement of 8 October which noted that the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is an important step forward in the peace process that provides a window of opportunity to achieve sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan,” the statement by the EU and extended to Nyamilepedia partly reads.
“We therefore join the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) in urging the signatories to make continued and accelerated efforts in this regard. In particular, we echo the African Union PSC Communiqué of 15th October in encouraging the Government to expeditiously disburse the remaining funds pledged in May 2019 for the implementation of the R-ARCSS. We further call for progress in political dialogue to address the issue of the number of states and their boundaries,” the statement adds.
The statement further said the continental body “commend the signatories to the R-ARCSS for the progress in the maintenance of the ceasefire since September 2018.
“We note that progress has been made on Transitional Security Arrangements. However with only two weeks left in the extended Pre-Transitional Period, much remains to be done to fulfill the benchmarks in the R-ARCSS.
“We welcome the meetings in Juba to date of His Excellency President Salva Kiir and SPLM-10 Chairman Dr. Riek Machar and encourage more meetings between them, including other signatories to the R ARCSS, as soon as possible to resolve the outstanding issues.
“The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) is due to be formed on 12 November according to the agreement of the parties in May 2019 to extend the pre-transitional period by six months.
“We view it as critical that the R-TG0NU be inclusive of all signatory parties, as stipulated in the R-ARCSS, We look forward to the Transitional Period which will move the country towards elections and also serve as a time for reform, reconciliation and healing. We look forward to engaging with the R TGONU on the implementation of all chapters of the peace agreement.
“The people of South Sudan want peace and prosperity, and our countries and organizations are ready to support and promote this in various ways, in partnership with an inclusive R-TGONU. We look forward to the anticipated peace and stability of the Transitional Period as an opportunity to invest in and provide further support to South Sudan and its citizens.”
