Talks between parties to the peace agreement were deadlocked Tuesday over the number of seats in state legislative assemblies, but all sides agreed to meet again on Wednesday.
The meeting in Juba is aimed at reaching a deal on the formation of state governments. Since the formation of the presidency in February, there have been delays in the establishment of a national legislative assembly and the continued absence of state and county administrations.
Kornelio Kon, a representative of the Other Political Parties (OPP) at the meeting, admitted that talks on the state legislative assemblies "haven't produced much". But he said the parties will meet again on Wednesday morning for another attempt.
“We will meet again on Wednesday morning. We couldn’t go ahead today (Tuesday) on the number of seats in the state legislative assemblies,” he told Radio Tamazuj.
“The SPLM, SSOA and OPP are saying that the number of MPs in the state legislative assembly should be 71, while the SPLM-IO is insisting on 51 MPs,” he added.
The South Sudanese politician said the meeting was postponed for further internal consultation.
“Also, there is a proposal for 17 state ministers, five state advisors and six independent commissions, but that it was not agreed upon by the parties,” he said.
Kon further said the parties agreed on the importance of forming state governments first before the national legislature.
President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar, who is also the First Vice President, remain at a stalemate over the nomination of General Johnson Olony to Upper Nile state’s governorship.
Riek Machar’s party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) was allocated three states, including Upper Nile state, where the appointment of a governor is still pending.