Michael Makuei, spokesman of the government of South Sudan, says the government has adopted the recent IGAD communiqué as the best roadmap for the implementation of the country's peace agreement. This came after a lengthy meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in Juba.

Makuei told reporters after their meeting that they are optimistic that they will resolve the issue of 28 states with the opposition party after forming the power-sharing government. This was the proposal of the IGAD Council of Ministers announced over the weekend as a way to move forward in spite of the impasse over the 28 states. 

“This is the rooadmap that has been provided in the communiqué and we have accepted to follow that communiqué… so the transitional government of national unity will be set up as soon as possible without the constitution,” Makuei said.

He was referring to the constitutional review committee, an organ established by the peace agreement, which has failed to reach consensus on how to adopt the peace agreement into the constitution and which changes specifically to make.

Makuei was asked when they will form the transitional government. He replied: “We have accepted the communiqué as it is and the communiqué gives us seven days.”

“The issue of 28 states remains [outstanding] and the transitional government of national unity will be set up…the TGONU will continue to discuss the issue of 28 states, if the TGONU fails to agree on the 28 states, there will be further operalization of the order,” said Makuei.

Separately, Hassan Ramadan, the deputy head of the SPLM-IO Advance Team, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj in an interview today that they have also accepted the IGAD communiqué.

Related: 

IGAD asks S Sudan to pause 28 states plan