Breakthrough: Agreement on the Establishment of The Transitional Government of National Unity In The Republic of South Sudan

Feb 2, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — According to the latest document released by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the warring parties have made substantial progress on Monday morning.

The two principles have agreed on the structure and mandate of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU)

President Salva Kiir and Dr. Machar, recognize that the armed conflict will further destroy the country and the lives of millions of South Sudanese.

As Salva Kiir’s term in office expires on July 9^th, the agreement entails that the TGoNU must be established before July 9^th, 2015.

According to IGAD’s 29^th Extraordinary Assembly, president Salva Kiir shall be the president of the Transitional Government of National Unity for a period of 30 months before subsequent elections are convened.

It is yet to be verified if the government faction would proceed with the proposed elections before June 2015, however, sources from Juba, South Sudan, indicate that the government lacks budget to conduct elections in 4 months.

The full text on areas of agreement is as follow….

We, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (hereinafter referred to as the GRSS, the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army (in Opposition) (hereinafter referred to as the SPLM/A(IO), jointly referred to as “the parties” to this Agreement;

Cognizant of the tremendous damage and suffering caused by the crisis in our country, the Republic of South Sudan, since December 2013;

Recognizing the grave danger posed by the continuation of conflict in South Sudan;

Further recognizing that armed conflict will only further damage the country and the lives of millions of South Sudanese;

Accepting the need for profund structural, institutional and political reforms in South Sudan;

Recalling the commitment made to resolve the crisis in South Sudan, namely the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of January 23, 2014; the Agreement to Resolve the Crisis in South Sudan of May 9, 2014, and the commitment iof the parties to form a Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan without further delay;

Here agree the following:

1. Structure and Mandate of the Transitional Government of National Unity:
   2015. There shall be established in South Sudan a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), no later than July 9, 2015. The term of the TGoNU shall be thirty (30) months to be proceeded by a pre-Transition Period of three (3) months.
2. The mandate of the TGoNU shall be to:
   1. Implement the Peace Agreement and restore peace, security and order in the country.
   2. Expedite the relief, repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs and returnees.
   3. Facilitate and oversee a process of national reconciliation and healing through an independent mechanism as per the Articles of this peace Agreement.
   4. Oversee the Permanent Constitution-making Process.

Disagreement on power sharing:

On Monday the warring parties agreed to increase the number of members of parliament from 400 to 548, however, the two sides disagreed on the power ratios.

While the government delegation demands that the government faction should occupy 290 seats or 53%, the SPLM [IO] with 180 seats or 33% as the other parties take on the remaining 14 %, the SPLM-IO delegation demands a 45:45:10 power sharing arrangement.

According to this proposal, Salva Kiir shall remain the president, deputized by Dr. Riek Machar as the First Vice President and James Wani Igga as the second Vice President.

The proposed agreement dictates that all the dismissed governors shall be jointly appointed by the First Vice President and the President.

The SPLM/SPLA [IO], however, has rejected the new power ratios, and insists that the power sharing arrangement shall be:

1. SPLM-RM 45%
2. GRSS 45%
3. Other political parties 10%.

The opposition maintains that the government shall be reconstituted at all level with no exception, whatsoever.

According to Dr. Riek Machar, the current agreements are not final. The two parties will take time to consult and iron-out many differences on power sharing.

Given the differences, the talks have been adjourned until mid-February.

According to Seyoum Mesfin, the chief mediator of the East African IGAD bloc, the two leaders had agreed to resume talks on Feb. 20.

Mesfin, however, promises that this would be the final round to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

“(Those talks) would be final and that would lead them into concluding a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis in South Sudan,” Mesfin told reporters minutes before Kiir and Machar signed the latest peace deal.