![South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, greeting each other during Machar's swearing in ceremony in February [Photo via Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/79783803_1041595442857475_7400160051790348288_o.jpg?resize=1630%2C1201&quality=89&ssl=1)
JUBA, MARCH 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) — The long-awaited meeting between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar is currently underway at the state house J1 and the two are in a very heated debate, an official says.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, acting press secretary in the first vice-president’s office Gordon Yien Gordon said that the meeting was currently underway as of 11:30AM at the presidential palace J1.
“The anticipated meeting between the two Principals, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan and H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, First Vice President is taking place now,” he wrote in the statement.
“We hope that the meeting would observe the spirit and letter of the Revitalised Peace Agreement,” he added.
Kiir on Friday night sacked the SPLM-IO minister of defense Angelina Teny.
He also sacked the SPLM-IG minister of interior and then issued yet another decree swapping the two ministries – giving the interior to the SPLM-IO and taking away the defense ministry.
The SPLM-IO reacted quickly to communicate to the public that the decision by Kiir was unilateral and so violates the revitalized peace agreement.
In a statement following a day-long meeting chaired by its leader Riek Machar on Saturday, the SPLM-IO condemned the removal of the minister of defense and urged the president to revoke his decision, but then reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
