Machar blesses extension of transitional period

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has welcomed the extension of the transitional period for at least 24 months, and thanked President Salva Kiir Mayardit, his main rival, for making the decision for the extension.

Speaking during the presentation of the presidency peace roadmap at the Freedom Hall in Juba on Thursday, Machar said there were concerns before the decision to extend the transitional period was reached by the parties.

“I want to thank the president for initiating this process. Before he initiated this process, there were concerns from South Sudanese, from the region from the international community because time is running out. And there was no way forward so questions were being raised, are we going to crush or are we going to get a solution,” he added.

“We had no choice but to extend the transition period. The extension is genuinely for this peace agreement to be implemented,” he added.

Machar said the SPLM-IO had issued a document in March this year where he elaborated that most provisions of the revitalized peace agreement are still lagging and that the possibility for the extension of the transitional period cannot be ruled out.

“Those who met me in my office or in my home I refrained from giving solutions but I always refer them to a document we offered on March 15, 2022 where we highlighted the status of the implementation of the agreement and we say the way forward is for parties to dialogue,” he said.

“The most senior person is the president and without him making the move, it will be default for the rest to make the move although we think in the IO we have made the move, we said there is need for us to dialogue so that we make the way forward which is the extension,” he added.