January 4th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan government and opposition groups have been urged to resolve all the critical pre-transitional tasks provided for in the 2018 agreement before forming the unity government next month.
The government and opposition groups signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in 2018 to end the ongoing civil war. The agreement provided for the formation of a revitalized unity government of 36 months.
That action has been adjourned from time to time because the parties could not agree on how to resolve outstanding issues ranging from the number and boundaries of states to the security arrangement (formation of a one unified national army).
President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar who is also the First Vice President designate met in November in Uganda and agreed to extend the pre-transitional period for 100 days to enable for the completion of pre-transitional tasks which are still pending.
In a statement to mark the first 50 days of the 100 day-day extension, the Troika (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway) urged the South Sudan parties to implement all the pending tasks before forming what would officially be the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).
“We call upon all parties to meet their commitments to deliver lasting peace. With less than six weeks remaining to meet the extended deadline to form a Transitional Government of National Unity, South Sudan’s leaders have a clear duty to their citizens to deliver,” said a statement released by the Troika on Thursday.
“We also remind all parties to uphold, and affirm publicly, their commitment to the permanent ceasefire, and to instruct their forces to exercise restraint,” the statement added.
“Ending reliance on military force and creating political space for a diverse range of voices from all political parties, civil society, and the media is essential to creating a durable peace and an inclusive government that represents the interests of all parties to the agreement”.
