February 26th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – Rival South Sudan parties to the revitalized peace agreement are fighting over distribution of key ministerial positions, officials said on Wednesday.
President Salva Kiir last week appointed SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny as First Vice President and the two were set to form the Reconstituted Translational Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) on Saturday.
However, because of disagreement over what ministry goes to which party, the government formation has been delayed.
A senior government official told Nyamilepedia today that there was serious disagreement over who should take key ministries.
He said the main armed opposition group led by Machar was insisting on taking the ministry of defense, interior and petroleum.
“There is disagreement over the ministry of defense, interior and petroleum,” the government official said on condition of anonymity.
“For our part, we say the defense, petroleum and foreign affairs should come to the government and the IO takes interior plus other ministries,” the government official added.
Another senior government official said he was hopeful that an agreement maybe reached today and that the “government will finally be formed on Thursday.”
