Machar says state governments, national legislature to be formed next week

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of the country’s main opposition group, SPLM-IO, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, is saying that state governments and transitional national legislature will be formed in two weeks time.

In his statement extended to Sudans Post on the commemoration of 7th anniversary of Juba massacre, December 15, 2013, Machar revealed that the state government will be form before the end of the year.

“I believe, in a day or two, declaration of formation of nine states and local governments as well as the Transitional National Legislature shall be done,” he said.

The leader of main opposition group, SPLM-IO sound optimistic that the government of Upper Nile State and its counties shall be formed before the end of the year.

Machar said that plans are underway to graduate the necessary unified forces soon.

“With peace prevailing, I am likewise confident that the security arrangement will be implemented. The first batch of the Necessary United Forces will be graduated soon. The implementation security mechanism are working around the clock to make this graduation possible, although there are some impediments that the R-TGoNU will have to surmount,” Machar said.

He attributed that delay in the implementation of the peace agreement to lacks of resources.

“Defiantly, there have been delays in the implementation of the Agreement. There are many reasons for the slow implementation of the Agreement included are the fall of the oil prices resulting to lack of funding of the implementation process, the pandemic of Corona Virus and the political will. Despite these difficulties we are pushing forward for the implementation of the Agreement,” he said.

He reiterated his movement commitment to the peace agreement.

“We are convinced that it is time to consolidate peace, justice and stability in our country. It is time for us to champion peace, reconciliation and healing in our society. We must not allow peace spoilers to turn the clock back to violence.

The R-TGoNU is now kicking off the process of reconciliation, forgiveness and national healing by convening before the end of this month a conference for the people of Upper Nile State,” Teny expressed.