February 10th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – The African Union (AU) on Monday called on the parties to South Sudan’s revitalized peace agreement to form the long-awaited Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) on time as agreed in November
“This is a very important issue, because the time is short to establish an administration and save the country from total collapse,” AU Peace and Security Council member Ismail Chergui said at a press conference.
Last year, the parties agreed to form the unity government first in May but because pre-transitional tasks provided for in the revitalized peace agreement were not in place, the parties had to extend the pre-transitional period for a November 2019 deadline which also passed without the government being formed.
A new deadline agreed by President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is February 22.
It however remain clear if that deadline will be met given the outstanding issues on which basis past deadlines were not met by the rival parties.
The AU supports the ongoing efforts in Southern Sudan to achieve institutional stability involving all armed groups and we hope that this can soon be done, Chergui said.
This deadline, he said, is not extendable. Another delay in this process could plunge South Sudan into a new cycle of conflict and violence.
Precisely the situation in South Sudan and the crisis in Libya, considered a global threat, were two of the most discussed issues yesterday and today in this capital, during the 33rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
