UNITED NATIONS, Nov 12 (NNN-SUNA) – The UN chief welcomed the decision by an eastern African bloc, to extend the pre-transitional period for an additional 100 days, for South Sudan to form a national unity government.
“The secretary-general welcomes the decision of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers, further to the agreement by the South Sudanese parties, under the auspices of Uganda and Sudan, to extend the pre-transitional period for an additional 100 days,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said.
The IGAD Council of Ministers, endorsed the 100-day extension for the formation of the South Sudan transitional government of national unity.
“The secretary-general urges the parties to use this extension to make further progress on critical benchmarks, including security arrangements and the number and boundaries of states, to allow for the formation of an inclusive transitional government of national unity,” said Haq.
“The secretary-general also urges the Government of South Sudan to support the process by releasing the pledged amount of 100 million U.S. dollars, through a transparent and accountable mechanism,” he added.
Both South Sudan President, Salva Kiir, and the country’s opposition leader, Riek Machar, agreed on the 100-day extension at a tripartite meeting, in the Ugandan city of Entebbe, arranged by Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni.
At the meeting, Kiir and Machar also agreed to submit an implementation report, after the first 50 days.– NNN-SUNA