Kiir ‘won’t authorize’ formation of local governments until  2021 – official

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit is reportedly not authorizing formation of local governments – even if the parties completed the nomination process needed – until January 2021, according to a senior government official.

State and local governments have not been formed owing to a number of disagreements between the parties to the revitalized peace agreement which ended the war in February with appointment of SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny, once again, as the country’s First Vice President.

Last month, the parties agreed to the allocation of states and local government positions, but one important critical issue, the appointment of the Upper Nile state governor, remains which will determine that a full formation of state governments is guaranteed.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior South Sudan government official who is involved in negotiation over local government power sharing talks, said the President won’t authorize the formation of states and local government until 2021 after TB Joshua, a Nigerian preacher, visit Juba January.

The SPLM-IO said last week that it won’t submit nominees to state government positions until President Salva Kiir appoint General Johnson Olony as governor of Upper Nile state.

“The president does not intent to authorize the formation of states and local governments in 2020. He won’t authorize this until 2021,” the senior government official who refused not to be named told Sudans Post.

“TB Joshua will visit this country in January, and after this, the local governments will be formed,” the official added.