The regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is calling on the parties to South Sudan revitalized peace agreement to develop a clear roadmap to ensure full implementation of the terms within the extra 100 days in the pre-transitional period.
The parties agreed to extend the pre-transitional period by 100 days last week to allow for the implementation of key pending tasks including security arrangements and the number of states and their boundaries.
In a communiqué of the 69th Extra-Ordinary session of the IGAD Council of Ministers, and seen by Radio Tamazuj, IGAD welcomed the extension but urged the timely implementation of the tasks that delayed the formation of a unity government.
IGAD instructed its special envoy to South Sudan, R-JMEC, the ceasefire monitoring mechanism CTSAMVM and the African Union Commission to urgently organize a workshop for security in Juba to agree on a clear timeline for implementation within the 100 days.
The regional body also called on the guarantors of the agreement to operationalize the new mechanism agreed upon in the Entebbe Tripartite Summit and prepare the terms of reference of the mechanism.
The IGAD statement called on the government to release funds to implement the outstanding issues and mobilize necessary assistance to the various cantonment sites and barracks.
IGAD also appealed to government and opposition forces to vacate civilian centers saying the continued occupation of these areas is a violation of the agreement.
The council also appreciated the support provided by Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, China, and Japan, and appealed to regional and international countries to provide the necessary support to accelerate the implementation of the agreement.
The statement also highlighted the importance of continuing to engage armed groups that are not signatories to the 12 September peace deal.