East African body urges South Sudan to implement peace

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - East African body calls on South Sudan leaders to stay committed to peace process to meet 100-day deadline to form transitional government of national unity.

Speaking during the workshop organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other peace monitors on Monday in Juba, Ambassador Ismail Wais, IGAD special envoy to South Sudan, called upon the leaders to refrain from the activities that derail peace process.

He urged members of the security mechanisms to demonstrate "true willingness" to implement the pending tasks, and said: "100-day period is very short, the challenges you face are not only due to lack of funding, but also to lack of commitment".

He called on them to reflect the challenges they face to see the way forward.

There is a need to bring all the forces on board so that they are screened and trained, he added.

Ambassador Wais assured IGAD's unwavering support to peace process in South Sudan.

He also called on the army generals to have cooperation among themselves as they are working for the future of their country.

Augustine Njoroge, the chairperson of Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) -- South Sudan peace monitoring group formed to oversee the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the country -- urged the government to fund the implementation of peace process.

"Without funding, nothing will be implemented, and one day that goes without funding is too much [to waste on the way to] peace implementation," he said.

Ambassador Joram Biswaro, the representative of African Union to South Sudan, said they want peace in South Sudan and are committed to support peace process in South Sudan by remaining as peace partners.

South Sudan parties to the agreement failed to constitute a new government on Nov. 12, because pre-transitional period tasks were not accomplished.