No changes within gov’t as extended road map begins:Makuei

South Sudan’s transitional unity government will not be reshuffled during the extended transitional period that commenced on Wednesday.

This was revealed by Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, Communication, Telecommunication and Postal Service during press conference in the capital, Juba.

 “We are not touching any part or provision of the agreement; we have not violated the agreement but extended the period in order for us to implement the unimplemented part,” Makuei said.

He was reacting to rumours suggesting a major reshuffle within cabinet would see the five vice [presidents trimmed to two and cabinet downsized.

Makuei said they came under increasing pressure from the international community to deploy the recently graduated unified forces.

 He disclosed that they cannot deploy these forces without guns due to the existing arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council and the United States since 2018.

 “The international community is on our necks to deploy the forces that have been graduated, as you know very well, I have been telling the people all the times that the forces will be graduated with sticks and we did so,” Makuei said.

The parties to the 2018 revitalized peace deal are expected to hold election in December 2024, but for election to be free, fair and credible warrants them to accomplish the outstanding tasks within the deal.

The enactment of the permanent constitution, electoral laws and institutions are yet to be completed on time.