Sudan confirms extension of S. Sudan transitional period, Kiir to make announcement

JUBA – The Sudanese government has confirmed that President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny, as well as other signatories to the revitalized peace agreement, have agreed to the extension of the transitional period provided for in the agreement.

Kiir and Machar, the leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), signed the peace deal in September 2018 in Addis Ababa, after a two-month negotiations in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

The agreement provides for a transitional period of thirty-six months (36) starting in May 2019. But due to delays in the implementation process of pre-transitional activities, the parties delayed the formation of the unity government provided for in the agreement until February 2020.

Now, the transitional period is ending in less than eight months, but critical tasks needed for conduct of elections are yet in place and the government has stepped up efforts to develop a roadmap to guide the country for implementation of those tasks leading to elections.

On Monday afternoon, the Sudanese foreign minister Ali Al Sadig arrived in Juba for meetings with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Machar to assess the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement.

“In Juba, I met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and Vice President Hussein Abdelbaqi. The meetings I have had focused on the progress made in the implementation of the peace agreement and the challenges,” Al-Sadiq is quoted by Radio Tamazuj as saying.

The senior Sudanese official, who is also the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, said he discussed with South Sudan leaders the possibility of extending the transitional government lifespan, as the conduct of general elections requires preparations.

“The remaining period is not enough for the elections to take place, so the idea to extend the transitional period came up during the discussions. This is what the parties have agreed on, and the president will announce it,” al-Sadiq said.