All arrangements are in place for a meeting between all parties to the peace deal and members of the UN Security Council in Juba on Sunday, the president’s office said.
The president’s spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the government has made elaborate arrangements for the scheduled meeting between the parties to the revitalised peace agreement and a delegation of members of the UN Security Council on Sunday.
“The delegation of the UN Security Council will hold a meeting with President Salva Kiir on Sunday afternoon. Also, the delegation will hold a meeting with the parties to the revitalised peace agreement,” he said.
“Dr. Machar is expected to return to Juba to be part of the meeting… the arrangements for Machar’s return are being made by the National Pre-Transitional Committee,” he added.
Ateny, who is also the presidential press secretary, said the UN Security Council delegation’s visit aims to acquaint itself with the political situation in South Sudan.
For his part, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, the SPLM-IO’s deputy spokesman said exiled opposition leader Riek Machar is expected to return to Juba to attend the meeting.
“Dr. Machar is expected to attend the meeting in Juba on Sunday. The scheduled meeting with the UN Security Council will focus on the implementation of the peace agreement and the outstanding issues,” he said.
The UN Mission in South Sudan announced Tuesday a high-level delegation of the United Nations Security Council will arrive in the capital, Juba, on Sunday in order to put its weight behind the political process.
The scheduled visit comes amid mounting global pressure on South Sudan’s rival parties to settle outstanding issues in the peace deal and establish a unity government by November 12.
President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a number of other opposition groups signed the peace deal in September 2018, but they had been unable to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the deal was signed.