A government delegation left Juba on Wednesday afternoon to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend a meeting convened by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
IGAD special envoy for South Sudan Ismail Wais invited the leadership of parties to the Revitalised peace agreement to Addis Ababa on 2nd and 3rd of May to discuss the implementation of the peace agreement, challenges and way forward.
Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the delegation is headed by the government spokesman and information minister Michael Makuei.
“The people going in the government are three people plus Michael Makuei and those of the Pre transitional period, Martin Elia and other political parties who signed the agreement,” he said.
Ateny said President Salva Kiir will not attend the meeting, “The president is the head of the government it is not a must that he attends everything. He signed the agreement, now the committees can work.”
According to the agreement, parties are expected to form a transitional unity government by May 12th.
However, the parties have disagreed on the date for the formation of the transitional government with the government insisting it will go on with the formation as stipulated while the main opposition party says a unity government can only be formed once security arrangements have been implemented.
However, Ateny stressed that the government is committed to forming a unity government in accordance with the agreement.
“The government position remains, we will form the government on 12 May 2019,” he added.
The United States Ambassador to South Sudan Thomas Hushek on Monday called on all parties to the agreement to reach a consensus on the formation of a unity government during the talks.
The Catholic Church has also called on the principal leaders to attend the talks and show humility and a political will to avoid relapse to conflict.