SPLM-IO ‘not for’ extension of transitional period — official

JUBA — A senior member of South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has said that his group is not for any extension of the transitional period, but wants peace implemented before conduct of elections.

This comes a few days after a member of Other Political Parties (OPP), a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, said the parties need more time to fully implement the revitalized peace agreement.

Separately, a senior member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit told Sudans Post this morning that Kiir is weighing on asking the transitional parliament for extension of the transitional period.

President Salva Kiir has however been calling for conduct of elections in 2023. But his rivals in the opposition including Machar have rejected the calls for conduct of elections before the completion of the formation of the national army.

Kiir has gone as far as urging the international community to support his intentions to hold general elections slated for end of the transitional period in 2023, which he said will help end cycles of wars and transitions in the world’s youngest country.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, Dut Majokdit, member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC), said the SPLM-IO is not for extension of the transitional period, but for full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“First of all, our call for the implementation of chapter two which deals with the security arrangements should not be confused with our strong believe in elections for people of South Sudan to chose their leader,” Majokdit told Sudans Post from Juba.

“But we are saying led us implement the peace agreement and then go for elections. We are not for extension of the transitional, but let’s first implement peace and then we conduct elections,” he added.