South Sudan parties extend transitional period for 2 years

JUBA — President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny have agreed to extend the transitional period for twenty-four months (or two years), according to government officials.

This comes a day after visiting Sudanese foreign minister said the parties had agreed to extend the transitional period citing shortage of the remaining time for implementation of the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement.

Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth earlier today said the government has not yet decided as to if it will extend the transitional period.

But an unnamed government official is being quoted by Radio Tamazuj as saying that the parties to the 2018 agreement have agreed to extend the transitional period for at least 24 months.

“In principle, the duration of the new transition has been set at 24 months, after February 2023. The parties agreed that there is a need to extend the transitional period,” one official said on condition of anonymity.

“I can say that the parties have agreed in principle on a 24-months extension unless the principles want to make some changes to it. But the technical committee has agreed on 24 months,” the source added.

He said that “the technical committee that was formed after the recent presidency meeting is working on the document. The committee is writing the document and when it is ready, it will be presented to the principles to sign it and then it will be made public.”