The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway, also referred to as the Troika, on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to the South Sudan peace process and urged for immediate implementation of a peace agreement, reported Africa News.
In an official statement, the Troika welcomed a decrease in political violence and the presence of opposition politicians in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.
South Sudan plunged into civil war back in 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup against him. Kiir agreed to a unity government with Machar and signed a peace deal in September 2018. But the formation of the new government, which was initially scheduled to take office May 12, was postponed for six months. The deadline for the pre-transitional period is November.
The Troika cautioned that time is running out as there are less than four months until the new deadline for the end of the pre-transitional period in November.
“While there is progress, lack of momentum to fully implement the peace agreement may threaten the successful formation of the transitional government and prospects for the peace process,” the statement read.
The statement hailed the appointment of Stephen Kalonzo as the Kenyan Special Envoy on South Sudan and welcomed the commitment made by the AU High-Level Ad hoc Committee (theC5) at the AU summit to re-engage in South Sudan’s peace process.
The Troika urged the parties to increase efforts to resolve the remaining issues, which include ensuring the implementation of agreed security reforms through the mobilization of necessary support.
“For the peace process to remain credible, it is important that the parties demonstrate their commitment to peace and meet the assurances they made in May,” the statement added.
The Troika said it stands in support of the South Sudanese people and looks forward to working with the reconstituted transitional government.
