IGAD will not force parties to form government in November – special envoy

October 29^th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has said that it will not force South Sudan parties to form the long-awaited unity government in November.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit threatened in the past that he will form the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in November without prominent signatories such as main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Machar, for his part, said he will not participate in the government formation should the outstanding issues remain unresolved before the November 12^th deadline. His stance was also echoed by prominent South Sudan politician, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin who leads the National Democratic Movement (NDM).

In an exclusive interview on Monday, IGAD special envoy Ismail Wais  said the regional bloc which mediated the 2018 peace pact will not force the parties to form a government on November 12^th but will push for the implementation of the outstanding issues.

“We will not dictate to the parties to form a unity government by November 12^th deadline,” Wais said.

Wais who emphasized that the mediators would offer a coordinated push to move the process further said the regional body has “not received any official communication from the SPLM-IO declining to take part in the next government.”