Talks on Number of States and their Boundaries hit deadlock

January 15, 2020 IGAD, Newsbeat, Sudan

President Salva Kiir Mayardit, opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council meeting during Consultation Meetings on the number of states and their boundaries (Photo: PPU)

January 15th, 2020 (SSNN)—South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar have failed to come to an agreement on the number of states and their Boundaries, an outstanding issue derailing the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

Tut Kew Gatluak, Presidential Security Advisor and Chairman of the National Pre-Transitional Committee disclosed that the two principals did not agree on the number of states, however, hinted that the matter would not prevent the Parties from forming a Transition government of National Unity.

“Consultations between the parties to the agreement on the number of states and other outstanding issues is still ongoing, adding that the number of states will not hinder the formation of the transitional government of national unity next month,” PPU quoted Tut as saying.

After failed attempts to resolve the contentious issue, the two leaders agreed to refer the matter to the East African regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for further consultation with the President on the way forward.

South Sudan’s government continues to maintain its position on the 32 states.
President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018 to end the conflict and restore peace in the country.

The latest failure by the two rival leaders to agree on the number of states has raised doubts over whether the long-awaited unity government will be formed in February.