In a statement, Machar’s office said the meeting covered discussions on the political and security situations in the country and that the Troika envoys led by U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler called for urgent deployment of the peace forces.
“His Excellency First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, met with representatives of the Troika countries (U.S., British, and Norway) today at his office to discuss the status of the Roadmap’s implementation,” said the statement seen by Sudans Post.
“The discussion also covered the country’s political and security circumstances as well as the urgent necessity to deploy the required unified forces to speed up the revitalized peace agreement’s implementation,” it added.
The statement published on the Facebook page of the First Vice President’s Office quoted US envoy Adler as acknowledging “the urgency of the parties in the unity government, giving priority to their pledges and duties to bring about peace in the nation.”
The Troika countries are major donors to the peace process in South Sudan. They have provided millions of dollars in funding to support the country’s peace efforts since the outbreak of civil war in December 2013.
Their meeting with Machar also comes at a critical time as the country prepares for its first-even elections slated for end of transitional period in 2024.
Despite a peace agreement in place and government preparations for democratic elections in December 2024, the country has continued to face challenges, including widespread insecurity and a lack of trust between the warring parties.