South Sudan’s political drama is all set to come to an end as President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have finally vowed to stick to a November 12 deadline for creating a long-delayed power-sharing government, reported Reuters.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters that the two parties discussed minor issues and the principals agreed to establish a transitional government by November deadline.
During a meeting at the State House in the capital Juba on Wednesday, the two leaders pledged to resolve all the critical challenges facing the implementation of the peace deal inked in September 2018 including outstanding issues such as security arrangements and the number of states before forming a unity government in November. They discussed the constitutional amendments, security laws and the number of regional states that the country should have.
“Talks between us are going on well. And we will reach a deal soon, so let’s rest assured that things are going on well,” Kiir told reporters after the meeting.
Machar, leader of South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), said he is still not a free man despite the fact that he will become First Vice President once again under the terms of last year’s peace deal.
“Juba is home and I have come back to Juba even if I go away for some time. The next coming, maybe [East African regional bloc] IGAD will determine my status to be free to come and discuss more with you here. But our discussion here, we have made important progress,” said Machar.
He added that he will visit Juba more often.
“There will be frequent meetings,” Machar said, standing next to Kiir.
South Sudan was engulfed in a civil war in 2013 when Kiir accused Machar, whom he had previously sacked from the vice president post, of plotting a coup against him.
