Machar praised for honoring women’s 35% share of power in unity gov’t, parliament

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has been praised by the South Sudan Women’s Business Group for his adherence to the 35% representation of women in the revitalized unity government and parliament.

This comes more than a year after President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny agreed for the formation of the transitional government and less than a month following the reconstitution of the transitional national assembly.

In a statement, the office of First vice President said Machar met on Thursday with representatives of the business community of South Sudan led by Businessman Ayii Duang who said they have briefed the first vice president of their activities in the country.

“Yesterday (27th May 2021) H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan met in his office with the Business Community and South Sudan Women’s Business Group,” Machar’s office said.

“The meeting has thoroughly discussed the overall economic situation in the country,” the statement seen by Sudans Post reads in part.

It added that the “South Sudan Women’s Business Group has congratulated the First Vice President on his commitment in adhering to the 35% share for women as stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement of the Conflict in the Republic South Sudan (R-ARCSS).”

For his part, Duang said the group “has briefed H.E. Dr. Machar on the major challenges facing the local business owners” and added that “Dr. Machar has pledged to seek a solution for those challenges, and directed the ministries concerned to identify way to overcome them.”

He further said the group “notified the First Vice President on their planned visit to Khartoum, Sudan to participate in a Tripartite Conference organized by Council of the Business Chambers of Three Countries; South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.”

He further emphasize that the said Conference “is designed to operationalize the trade protocols signed between South Sudan and Sudan and also to promote and facilitate trade and commerce between the Three Countries in the foreseeable future.”