January 15th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny are committed to resolving the disagreement over the number and boundaries of states, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Kiir and Machar who returned to Juba from Khartoum yesterday have been meeting since Tuesday to resolve the states impasse as clock ticks towards a February deadline for a unity government formation.
Tutkew Gatluak, the presidential advisor on security and chairman of the peace implementing National Pre-transitional Committee (NPTC) told reporters this afternoon that Kiir and Machar are committed to settling the states issue.
“Concerning the file of the number of the states and the boundaries, the consultation is ongoing and the parties have already committed to resolve the matter,” Gatluak said.
“Right now the committees are working closely to address this issue and after the final report from all the parties, the two principals will meet again and make a final decision on the matter,” he added.
Kiir and Machar signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in 2018. That agreement require the parties to settle a dispute on the number of states as opposition groups demands the reduction of the states announced by Kiir in 2015 in violation to the 2015 peace agreement.
The two men have been meeting in the capital Juba to settle the issue but couldn’t agree to a breakthrough amid speculations that the two men may end their commitment to the peace process over the issue.
“The deputy President of South Africa, is spearheading this file and we decided to give him more time for further consultation with all the parties to the revitalized peace agreement because this issue of the states involves all the parties to the agreement and I’m sure we will reach to an agreement,” Gatluak added.
