Kiir’s office says ‘no ability’ by peace parties to go for elections

JUBA – The presidency said on Thursday that the parties to the country’s 2018 revitalized peace agreement have no ability to go for elections as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement and that the extension of the transitional is the only option available.

This comes after President Salva Kiir Mayardit left the country for Ugandan capital Kampala where he is expected to hold talks with President Museveni on the sidelines of a regional summit over various issues including the implementation process of the agreement.

Kiir’s trip to Uganda also comes after senior government officials said in various statements to the media that the parties, notably the SPLM-IO and the SPLM-IG, have agreed to extension of the transitional period for at least two more years.

Speaking to journalists at Juba airport following President Kiir’s departure to Uganda, Ateny Wek Ateny, Kiir’s press secretary, said the South Sudanese president will discuss with his Ugandan counterparts the transitional period and said the parties are unable to conduct elections at the end of the transitional period.

“On the sideline of the meetings, there would be a meeting with H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda to discuss the roadmap on the revitalized peace agreement,” Ateny said.

“It is worth mentioning that the revitalized peace agreement is about seven months to run out without any ability by the parties to go for elections,” he added.