A prominent politician who resigned from the SPLM party on Tuesday, declared his intention on Thursday, to join the opposition group under Dr. Riek Machar.

This comes as plans get underway for the formation of a transitional government on Saturday. President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar said they agreed to form the unity government- even if not all their differences have been resolved.

The 2018 peace deal brokered by the East African bloc IGAD reinstates opposition leader Riek Machar as first vice-president, one of five vice-presidents.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this afternoon, Telar Ring Deng, a former ambassador to Russia said he had decided to join Machar’s SPLM-IO. “I can confirm that I have resigned from the SPLM party and joined the SPLM-IO. I don’t want to provide more details about the reasons that led me to resign from the SPLM party,” he said.

Telar said he is determined to work with opposition leader Riek Machar to pursue the reforms agenda as envisaged in the revitalized peace agreement. “I want to be part of the constitutional review process and system of governance. I am passionate always about the agenda of governance and rule of law,” he explained.

Telar further said he had not been promised a position in the main opposition group by Machar.

The South Sudanese politician noted that reforms can be achieved if people are free to express their opinions regardless of political affiliations.

Mr. Telar previously served as legal adviser to President Salva Kiir.