South Sudan has voiced concern over the future of the peace deal after the African Union suspended Sudan, which is tasked with overseeing the agreement.
The African Union suspended Sudan’s membership on Thursday until the establishment of civilian rule, intensifying international pressure on its ruling military council to transfer power after the worst violence since Omar al-Bashir's ouster in April.
The government of South Sudan said the continental body acted “without consultation” and noted that it will seek clarification from the regional IGAD grouping, which brokered the peace accord.
South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said Sudan and Uganda are guarantors to the revitalised peace deal that seeks to end the devastating conflict.
“Now that Sudan is suspended, so it is the IGAD and the AU that will tell us what will be the way forward,” Makuei told reporters in Juba on Friday.
“After all we were not consulted and we don’t know anything about it… But we will address it,” he added.
South Sudan’s rival leaders signed a peace deal in September 2018 to establish a transitional government by May 12, 2019.
However, the formation of the unity government was extended by six months to November after the parties failed to implement critical steps in the deal such as the creation of a unified army.