VP Taban behind delay in states gov’t formation, reconstitution of parliament  – official

JUBA – Vice-president Taban Deng Gai is behind the delay of the formation of state and local governments as well as the reconstitution of the country’s transitional national legislature, according to a senior government official with direct knowledge with the delay in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, the senior government official who requested not to be named said Taban, who is a former First Vice President and ex-leader of the SPLM-IO (Taban), is demanding at least 20% of power share at the Transitional National Legislative Assemble, the Council of states, the state governments and state parliaments as well as at the local level’s governments and councils.

“Many people don’t know what is causing the delay in the formation of the TNLA and the Council of states and also the states governments and councils,” the official speaking on phone to Sudans Post said from the capital Juba.

“The delay is because there are many parties within in the ITGONU. We have the coalition of parties led by Martin Elia Lomoro, and we also have the one led by Taban [Deng Gai] apart from the SPLM under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. So, the group led by Taban is demanding at least 20% of power share at all levels despite the fact that there are many parties that share the 57% allocated to the former ITGONU by the agreement,” the official added.

The senior government official further revealed that the group led by Cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomoro has been given 10 percent, saying negotiation are ongoing with Taban who he said has rejected 10% of the power share.

“Now Taban is in talks with us, but we have offered him 10 percent and he is refusing. So, the government cannot be formed because he is not happy with that percentage and he is an important partner in the peace implementation and that is why the formation of the parliament and the states government cannot go through,” the official said.