April 27th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) which mediated South Sudan’s revitalized peace deal is reportedly seeking for the postponement of the formation of unity government due for May.
President Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny signed a peace agreement in September 2018 to end the ongoing civil war which engulfed the nation in December 2013.
The agreement provided for a pre-transitional period of eight months after which a unity government should be formed. This period ends in two weeks time and necessary preparations are not yet in place.
The SPLM-IO led by Machar has said they will not be a part of any government formed without the completion of pre-transitional activities because it will jeopardize the peace and security in the future.
In a statement to the Nyamilepedia on Saturday, a member of South Sudan’s government said IGAD had informed the government that there is no ground for the formation of the government because all the arrangements have not been completed.
“They informed the government last week that they don’t support the formation of the government in May because all the preparations are not completed,” the official who declined not to be named said in a written message to the Nyamilepedia.
“All in all, we will have the full knowledge about their stance on the government formation next month at the summit,” he added referring to a meeting set for 3rd of May 2019 between Machar and Kiir in Addis Ababa.
