By Adia Jildo
The Deputy president of South Africa Paul Mashatile has called on the government of South Sudan to show commitment in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
The Deputy president met with the first vice president Dr. Riek Machar Teeny and the different stakeholders to discuss the progress of the 2018 peace agreement and the upcoming election.
Mashatile cited challenges to the agreement such as the return of the refugees and the permanent constitution making a hindrance to the process.
“We have agreed that we will look into the issue they have raised but the commitment to move forward to complete the peace process and have the election as agreed to, the vice president is very committed to that we achieve this within the time frame which has been agreed upon which is February 2025 to have the election,” he said.
Mashatile cited that there is a need for South Africa to assist South Sudan in resolving some of the issues that the agreement is facing.
“We discussed a number of important issues that will allow South Sudan move forward in the implementation of the revitalized agreement,” he said “We will be able to resolve most of these issues and be able to complete this peace process and have a very successful election within the time frame.”
Mashatile is expected to meet the president of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit where they will be discussing on the peace agreement and the bilateral relation between the two countries which has been for years since the liberation struggle.
“I am looking forward to a very successful engagement with the president tomorrow and we are looking forward to working with SSD as we complete the peace process and continue focus on the development of a South Sudan to be a prosperous nation,” he said.
