South Sudan’s government has allocated $16.5 million for the security mechanisms to speed up the creation of unified forces in the country.

The amount was allocated to the security mechanisms through the National Pre-Transitional Committee, a body tasked with the oversight and coordination of the activities of the pre-transitional period.

The move came as President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar held face-to-face meetings in the capital, Juba on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Juba after the meetings, Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro said the incumbent leadership and top officials from the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) held a “comprehensive” meeting on the implementation of the security arrangements in the context of the 100 days extension.

“We received the $40 million and distributed this money. $16,582,000 went to the security mechanisms, of which $3.5 million went to the Joint Defence Board, $4 million to the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission and $5 million to the Joint Technical Security Committee,” Lomuro explained.

He pointed out that the security mechanisms are committed to speed up the implementation of the pending critical tasks within the 100 days.

“There is consensus that there is delay, but the mechanisms have committed themselves to speed up now that they have the funds under their control,” Lomuro said. 

He added, “There is this issue of supplies which has been there. Food and medicines need to be purchased quickly”.

Pouk Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information has confirmed that the security mechanisms received $16 million from the government.

He pointed out that the money allocated to expedite the process of implementing transitional security arrangements is part of $100 million pledged by President Salva Kiir.

President Kiir and opposition leaders missed the November 12 deadline to form a unity government and agreed to give themselves another 100 days to form the government.

President Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other groups signed the peace agreement in September 2018. However the parties have failed to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the deal was signed.