April 29th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – Talks are underway to try to narrow gap between government and opposition groups over disagreement on formation of unity government due for May 12th.
South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit and opposition leaders including Dr. Riek Machar Teny signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in September 2018 to end the ongoing civil war.
Based on the agreement, the government and opposition groups should form a government of national unity at the end of a eight-month pre-transitional period which starts from the date the agreement is signed.
That pre-transitional period ends on 12th May and while the opposition calls for its extension, the government insists that the dateline will not be missed despite lack of necessary activities which are supposed to be in place before the government is formed.
In statements on Monday following a meeting with President Salva Kiir, Rebecca Garang who signed the agreement as imminent personality said talks are underway between the government and opposition groups to agree on platform on which basis the parties to the agreement could negotiate and to reach an agreement in the event the government is formed on or beyond May 12th.
“I discussed with the President the steps that could be taken to implement the peace process without any disagreement between the parties,” she said.
“So, I can say that talks are underway to narrow the gap between the government and the opposition over this sticking point, ” she added.
