South Sudan government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth announced that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is overseeing the peace agreement, has postponed a workshop on transitional security arrangements, which was scheduled to start today.
In a press conference Friday, Makuei told reporters he had received a “short email” from IGAD informing him that a delay in the list of participants and logistical problems would delay the workshop.
According to the IGAD timetable, the ceasefire workshop should be held within 14 days of the signing of the peace agreement. The event brings together military commanders from both sides for a technical discussion on how to implement the ceasefire.
Makuei said the government had provided its list of participants to IGAD.
“The delegates who were supposed to go are 11 in number,” he said. “There were supposed to be three army officers for the ceasefire, and two officers from the police and one from a national security organ. As for the new command, which is the joint military command, each party was requested to send in five, headed by an officer in the status of a deputy chief of general staff. So we nominated six for the ceasefire and the five for joint command.”
He said he believed the logistical problems stemmed from the rebels not having sent their list of participants in time.
“If Riek Machar does not put his house in order, even this agreement will be futile because the rebels who rebelled from Riek Machar are saying they will not abide by this agreement and that they will fight both Riek and the government,” he said.
Makuei reiterated his government’s commitment to implementing the IGAD-Plus compromise peace agreement that has been signed by both parties.
“We signed it, and if we have signed it, we are committed to peace,” he said. “We will make sure that it is implemented in accordance with the schedule laid down in the agreement.”
He called on IGAD to expedite the workshop.