Henry Dihal Odwar, a senior member of the SPLM-IO, said they and the government have reached a deadlock on the formation of a transitional parliament.
Odwar, who is former MP of South Sudan’s national parliament representing Ikotos County in Eastern Equatoria, told Radio Tamazuj that they disagreed with the government on who should chair the opening session in which a new speaker will be selected.
He pointed out that Kiir’s government demands the incumbent parliament speaker Magok Rundial chair the sitting while the armed opposition says the sitting will be chaired by an older person as is generally accepted in such situations.
The leading opposition member explained that the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) proposed to refer the matter to the transitional cabinet following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) to decide on this issue.
Chapter 1, Article 11.1 of the peace deal provides for the expansion of the existing parliament from 332 members to 400 members, including 50 from SPLM-IO, 1 from SPLM-FD and 17 from other political parties.
President Salva Kiir has already appointed the 50 members from SPLM-IO, though they have not yet been sworn in. 17 seats were also given to the other political parties, and one to the former detainees.
Photo: Henry Odwar (left) with other defectors from SPLM-Juba, 22 Nov. 2014