Ex-humanitarian minister Peter Mayen threatens to unveil ‘people-driven’ roadmap  

JUBA – South Sudan opposition leader and former minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management Peter Mayen Majongdit has said that the current roadmap which was agreed upon by President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar cannot deliver future and threatened to unveil a ‘people-driven’ road map comes February 2022.

Mayen, a controversial figure in South Sudan’s politics, was sacked in mid-November this year by President Salva after allegations of corruption in the handling of funds meant for services to citizens who have suffered devastating floods in the world’s youngest country.

In a statement on December 28, Mayen said the tenure of the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) comes to an end on 22^nd February 2023 and that the current roadmap, which was agreed upon by Kiir and Machar in August cannot deliver a future for South Sudan and called for people-driven roadmap.

“On 22^nd February, 2023, the current transition of RTNGU comes to an end. The current roadmap can’t deliver the future but there must be a ‘new roadmap’ which is people driven process, inclusive and involvement of all signatories both local, regional and international Community,” Mayen said.

“On February 22^nd the South Sudanese have all the rights to demand for people democratic process (we have learnt from Sudanese as South Sudanese), leading to democratic process,” he said.

Mayen who is the leader of the People’s Liberal Party (PLP) said his group “with its coalition of ten political parties known as Umbrella of political parties under the OPP shall lunch on 22, February 2023 ” the New Roadmap” which shall ensure total democracy and prosperity in South Sudan.”

Kiir and Machar signed the revitalized peace agreement in September 2018. The agreement provides for formation of a transitional government eight months after the signing of the deal, but that could not take place until two years from the signing of the revitalized peace agreement.

The transitional government could not implement all the provision of the deal as parties continue to trade blame over lack of political will. Kiir and Machar, the prominent signatories to the agreement, met in August 2022 and agreed for extension of the transitional period for at least two more years.