JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar will this week meet in a bid to try to break the deadlock over counties allocation, according to a SPLM-IO official.
Last week, the SPLM-IO, an important signatory to the revitalized pace agreement, withdrew from talks over the allocation of local government positions.
The government along with other minor opposition groups signed a deal for the allocation of the counties, without the Machar-led SPLM-IO.
Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, Dut Majokdit, a senior member of the SPLM-IO, said from Juba that the parties have referred the issue to the two principals who he said will meet this week to break the impasse.
“The matter of the counties has now been referred to the parties,” Majokdit said. “As you heard, the government delegation and other parties such as SSOA and OPP plus FDs signed the agreement without the IO.”
General Olony’s appointment
Another South Sudan government official has told Sudans Post that President Kiir has accepted to appoint General Johnson Olony Thabo whose status has delayed the process at the Upper Nile state level.
Machar nominated Olony on June 24, but Kiir refused to appoint him owing to warmongering suspicions.
The official who refused to be named said Kiir accepted the appointment of Olony and is expected to do so either by Monday or next week.
“The President has consented to appoint Olony and this will take place either today, Monday or similar day next week,” the official said.
