JUBA – The leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO) Riek Machar has accepted that the unity government be formed in February as agreed with president Kiir.
This is a new shift of position as the opposition group said last week that they won’t participate in the unity government formation unless the government accept the deployment of a regional protection force agreed in 2016.
In the statement signed by SPLM-IO deputy chairman of information committee Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, a meeting chaired by Machar in Juba accepted for the unity government formation at the end of the pre-transitional period.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) held in Juba, South Sudan, a meeting under Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA(I0) and the First Vice President Designate of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon,” the statement signed by Manawa Peter Gatkuoth who is a information official for the IO said.
“The meeting endorsed the SPLM/SPLA(10) position to enable the formation of the Revitalized Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) at the end of the extension of the 100 days presented to Special Envoys and President Salva Kiir Mayardit on 15h January 2020,” the statement added.
“The meeting also listened to the reports of the various peace implementation mechanisms on the progress and challenges facing the implementation of the critical pending pre- transitional tasks during the 69 days of the extended 100 days of the pre-transitional period of the R-ARCSS.
“The meeting reviewed and evaluated the tasks done during the 69 days of the 100 days per the communique of the 7″ November 2019 Tripartite Summit on the R- ARCSS in Entebbe, Uganda and the resolution of the IGAD Council of Ministers on the 10th November 2019 endorsing the 100 days’ extension.
“The review and evaluation is important as the parties and IGAD need to agree on the way forward in the implementation of the Agreement. In the light of the above, the SPLM/SPLA(I0) calls upon IGAD to urgently initiate the process of the evaluation of the elapsed period of the 100 days’ extension.
“Finally, the SPLM/SPLA(IO) reiterates its full commitment to the implementation of the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit.”
