SPLM-IO asks Troika and C5 to address state’s issue as recent talks failed to bear fruit.
Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Chairman of the SPLM-IO (Photo: Supplied)
January 22nd, 2020 (SSNN)—The main opposition group, SPLM-IO, is requesting the Troika countries and the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, to form a committee composed of a high-level panel of experts to look into the Number of States and their Boundaries, the SPLM-IO said in its statement.
“Since the parties failed to reach an agreement on the number of states in the last round of consultation facilitated by the Deputy President of South Africa, the SPLM-IO recommends formation of a committee composed of the C5 and Troika to determine the number of states and their boundaries.”
The opposition group recommended that “the committee shall make use of the data and the vast knowledge generated by the IBC, TBC, positions of the parties and the minutes of the negotiations on the subject.”
Adding that, “The committee should complete its work within two weeks to allow time for the structuring of the Council of States before the dateline of the formation of R-TGONU, The committee shall be supported by a secretariat drawn from IGAD secretariat and RJMEC secretariat.”
The opposition faction expressed concern over the slow pace of the implementation of the peace agreement.
“The progress of the implementation of the critical pre-transitional activities has been slow due to delay in the disbursement of the funds and lack of agreement on number of states and their boundaries since September 12, 2018. Based on our evaluation of the implementation process in the 100 days extension, it is unlikely that the training and deployment of the unified forces will be realized in time for the formations of R-TGONU an 22 February 2020 and cognizant of the stalemate in determination of the number of states and their boundaries.”
The issue of the Number of States and their Boundaries has been a major setback in the implementation of the peace agreement, which undermines efforts to restore peace in the country.
Observers believe that lack of political will and mistrust between the leaders will continue to undermine the implementation of the peace agreement and prevent them from reaching a compromise on ending the impasse over the outstanding issues.
The last round of talks between President Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar, mediated by South African Vice President David Mabuza, ended last week without coming to fruition.
On Tuesday, the European Union stressed the need for the inclusive implementation of all contentious issues before the formation of a Transitional National Unity Government.
“While welcoming recent progress, including meetings between President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar and the partial release by the government of the committed funds for peace agreement implementation, the EU calls upon all parties to urgently tackle the outstanding issues that should be resolved before the formation of the new government, as agreed by the parties in the peace agreement.”
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