JUBA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar have agreed to form a transitional unity government even if they fail to resolve all their differences before a new deadline, the two leaders said.
Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal last year under pressure from the United Nations, United States and countries in the region to end a five-year civil war and agreed to form a unity government by Nov 12.
But the two leaders pushed the deadline back by 100 days, prompting Washington to recall its ambassador and raising fears the civil war that created the worst refugee crisis in Africa since the Rwandan genocide might resume.
“We said that after 100 days we must form the government of national unity. If the arrangements are not complete, we shall form a transitional government of national unity to implement the outstanding issues,” Kiir told reporters after three days of talks with Machar in the capital Juba.
“The ceasefire will continue to hold and no one from us is willing to go back to war,” Kiir said at a joint news conference with the former rebel leader.
Both sides blame each other for not meeting milestones stipulated by the peace deal, especially the integration of different fighting forces. They also disagree on the number of states the country created in 2011 should have.
Meanwhile, at the UNITED NATIONS, the UN envoy for South Sudan urged the country’s leaders to show political will toward formation of a transitional government by the extended deadline as pessimism grows on its peace process.
David Shearer, special representative of the secretary-general for South Sudan, told the Security Council that “the choice to twice delay a transitional government has dampened initial hopes, eroded trust and confidence and caused people to suspect that political will between parties is waning.”
“While this second extension has eased anxiety … because it maintains the ceasefire, it has also disillusioned many citizens who feel more progress should have been made,” said Shearer.
“Reasons can always be found for further delay … But if the parties want to fully implement the agreement and form a new government, they can,” he said, stressing “it comes down to political will.”
He urged “measurable progress” to be made in key areas, including the reunification of forces and the issue of states and boundaries, to ensure the success of forming the government in time.
“In just two months, leaders will choose whether to form a transitional government,” said Shearer, calling on the South Sudanese leaders to act to protect the ceasefire and move forward along the peace process.
The UN envoy said South Sudan’s ceasefire is currently holding, pointing to a steep decrease in civilian injuries, abductions and casualties.
“While sexual violence remains an abhorrent problem, the 295 victims recorded in 2019 are substantially fewer than the almost 1,300 reported in 2018,” he added. — NNN-AGENCIES
