September 18th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is set to be appointed as the country’s First Vice-President, an official at the presidency said Wednesday.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Machar who leads the SPLM-IO signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in Addis Ababa last September to end the ongoing civil war.
The agreement provided for the return of Machar to the First Vice-President position which he held prior to July 2016 fighting at the presidential palace in Juba.
Kiir will maintain his position as President throughout the 36-month transitional period and will also appoint – beside Machar – four vice presidents who will have the same ranking.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia this morning, an official at the Presidency said Kiir will likely appoint Machar to his position at the end of September or during the beginning of October.
The official said the President has also asked the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) led by Josephine Lagu, the Former Detainees (FDs) led by Deng Alor Kuol to summit their nominees to the vice-president positions before end of October.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit will appoint Dr. Riek Machar [as FVP] at the end of September or the beginning of October,” the official said.
“His Excellency has also asked the SSOA led by Josephine Lagu and the former political detainees (FDs) led by Deng Alor to summit the names of their nominees [to VP positions] before the end of October,” the official added.
