Machar ‘confident’ peace deal will be fully implemented

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice-president Dr. Riek Machar Teny has said that he is confident that the revitalized peace agreement he signed in 2018 with President Salva Kiir Mayardit will be fully implemented.

Speaking during a General Assembly meeting of the Presbyterian Church in Juba on Monday, Machar however appealed to the citizens and everyone to do their part in the realization of peace in the world’s youngest country.

“We are now implementing the peace agreement. It is slow, but I want to assure you that I am confident that we will succeed in implementing it fully,” the powerful opposition leader told clerics.

The comments by Machar came as deadlocks over key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement continue to hamper the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

One of those deadlocks is the pending appointment of General Johnson Olony Thabo as governor of Upper Nile. Olony was nominated by Machar on June 24, but President Salva Kiir rejected his nomination calling Olony a warmonger.

However, Machar and his group rejected the claim and said Kiir doesn’t have powers to reject an opposition nominee as per the revitalized peace agreement.

Kiir last week asked Machar for a written pledge for a liability should Olony cause issue.