The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has appointed Ambassador Lt General Augostino S.K Njoroge as acting head of the internationally-backed body tasked with monitoring South Sudan's peace process.

In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Friday evening, the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, Workneh Gebeyehu appointed the current JMEC deputy chairperson, Augostino Njoroge to continue as deputy chairperson of R-JMEC and to act as the chairperson of the JMEC until a new chairperson is appointed by the regional bloc’s assembly of heads of state and government.

Former Botswana President Festus Mogae, who was the chair of the peace monitoring body, stepped down in September to allow new leadership during South Sudan's new transitional government.

The appointment of the acting head of the peace monitoring body comes as South Sudan’s parties started to set up mechanisms required to mark the beginning of the actual implementation of the pre-transitional period.

JMEC was established under the terms of the revitalized peace agreement to oversee the implementation of the deal. The peace accord signed by President Salva Kiir and opposition leaders in September will see the creation of a new unity government in April 2019.