Igad tells Kiir, Machar to form govt in 60 days
South Sudan President Salva Kiir (2nd left) meets his rival, Mr Riek Machar, during the opening of the Tripartite Summit, at State House Entebbe on November 7. President Museveni (right) and Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa were in attendance. PHOTO BY PPU
The Intergovernmental Agency on Development (Igad) has asked South Sudan warring parties to conclude the pre-transitional talks and form a unity government within 60 days.
The Igad special envoy for South Sudan, Dr Ismail Wais, told a meeting on South Sudan peace process on Monday that despite the warring parties agreeing to extend the formation of a transition government within 100 days earlier this month, 60 days are more appropriate.
Dr Wais said the 100-day timeframe offers another opportunity for planning and execution of the pending tasks.
According to a statement, he urged participants to plan for 60 days to avoid any risk of missing deadlines due to upcoming holidays and weekends.
President Salva Kiir and his rival, Mr Riek Machar, attended a meeting chaired by President Museveni at State House Entebbe two weeks ago and agreed that a coalition government be formed early next year.
Mr Machar had asked for more time for both parties to agree on cantonment of troops and the demarcation of the 28 South Sudan states.
Before the talks, President Kiir had threatened to form a coalition government without the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –In Opposition led by his rival and former vice president Machar but the international community warned him against the plan to leave out the biggest opposition group.
Funding issue
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which monitors the implementation of the ceasefire in South Sudan, yesterday said if government does not release the funds in time, the planned coalition government formation will not happen as scheduled.
“We all understand that without funds, not much can be implemented. The timely and predictable flow of funds is paramount,” Lt Gen Augostino Njoroge, the RJMEC interim chairperson ambassador, said.
South Sudan is supposed to release $100m (about Shs37b) for the implementation of the peace deal but by end of last month, only $10m (Shs3.7b) had been disbursed.
“RJMEC has consistently called for the release of funds and continue to urge the ITGoNU (Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity) to immediately release the requisite funding in the understanding that one day without funding is a day lost,” Lt Gen Njoroge said.
