ADDIS ABABA – The government of South Sudan has threatened to opt out of the IGAD mediation of the states impasse after the regional body proposed the reduction of the country’s 32 states.
The IGAD Council of Ministers approved, during a meeting in Addis Ababa on Saturday, 23 states, one of the outstanding critical tasks, which has hindered the formation of the unity government.
A peace agreement signed in 2018 provided for the determination of the number of states and their boundaries before a unity government could be formed.
The parties are now on loggerhead as they say they won’t be part to the unity government unless the number of states us determined.
On Saturday, the IGAD council of ministers meeting in Addis Ababa decided to endorse 23 states for South Sudan. President Kiir who was at the meeting rejected the endorsement.
Speaking to reporters in Addis Ababa this morning, information minister Michael Makuei said South Sudan may seek another mediator on the issue and said IGAD seemed to be overwhelmed by the situation in the country.
“It is clear that the IGAD is overwhelmed by the situation in our country. They should tell us that they can’t do the mediation so that we can look for another person to mediate for us,” Makuei said.
Yesterday, Makuei said the government of South Sudan will on on with the formation of the revitalized transitional government even if “IGAD like it or not.”
