November 22nd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy for South Sudan Ismail Wais has called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny to form the long-awaited unity government in 60 days.
Wais made the remarks on Monday during a meeting of South Sudan peace implementing mechanisms organized in Juba by the regional body which mediated the Revitalized Agreement for Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Kiir and Machar signed the revitalized peace agreement in September last year and agreed to work together for the third time as president and first vice president.
The agreement required the two men to form what would be the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in May but that action was postponed to November because conditions set forth by the agreement for the government formation were not place.
Early this month, the two men met in Uganda and decided to extend again the pre-transitional period for 100 days (or until February) because the same issues which led to the pre-transitional extension from May were not resolved.
The IGAD diplomat told a meeting on South Sudan peace process on Monday that despite the warring parties agreeing to extend the formation of a transition government within 100 days earlier this month, 60 days are more appropriate.
He said the 100-day time-frame offers another opportunity for planning and execution of the pending tasks. Wais asked the parties to plan for 60 days instead to avoid any risk of missing deadlines due to upcoming holidays and weekends.
For his part, the interim chairperson of R-JMEC Lt. Gen. Augustino Njoroge said: “We all understand that without funds, not much can be implemented. The timely and predictable flow of funds is paramount.”
“R-JMEC has consistently called for the release of funds and continue to urge the ITGoNU (Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity) to immediately release the requisite funding in the understanding that one day without funding is a day lost.”
