A prominent opposition politician has called on the parties to be serious in implementing the critical pending tasks, as deadline for the formation of a new government approaches.
President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other opposition groups signed the peace deal in September 2018. The parties had been unable to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the deal had been signed.
In May, the parties to the peace deal extended the pre-transitional period for another six months before forming the transitional government.
Lam Akol, who leads the opposition National Democratic Movement (NDM), said it is only when government approves the balance of the pledged $100 million that the creation of unified forces would be realized.
He emphasized the importance of making progress as quickly as possible. “It is our responsibility in the first place, so it is not the responsibility of the international community. We hope that within the remaining two and a half months, we will have enough money to accomplish the work,” Akol said.
“The international community can assist but the main responsibility is ours,” he stressed.
Akol, who is also a member of the Independent Boundaries Commission (IBC), said a political decision is needed to break the impasse over the number and boundaries of states, adding that failure to determine the number of states would lead to uncertainty. “You cannot form a new government without the council of states,” he said.
Akol was speaking at a workshop organized in Juba on Tuesday.