The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has urged South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to dissolve the current parliament before July 26, 2020.
During its 36th Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government held on Tuesday via videoconference, the regional bloc said Kiir should ensure parties reconstitute the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) in accordance with the revitalized peace deal within seven days of dissolving the current parliament.
At the sitting chaired by Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, the IGAD leaders lauded the progress made and milestones reached since the 34th extraordinary assembly held on February 8, 2020, in Ethiopia, citing the appointment and inauguration of the executive arm of South Sudan’s transitional government and finalizing administrative structures in relation to the number of states.
The regional bloc further urged the non-signatories to the revitalized peace agreement to abide by the cessation of hostilities agreement.
Meanwhile, President Kiir outlined the progress made in the peace process and the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The meeting was also attended by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ismail Wais and the interim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Augostino Njoroge.