South Sudan’s new unity government is set to be announced in coming days. The composition of the unity government is a key element of the country’s peace agreement and its formation comes after rebel leader Riek Machar returned to the capital Juba and was sworn in as vice president.
“Tomorrow, the transitional government of national unity for South Sudan will be announced,” said William Gatjiath, spokesman, SPLM-IO, adding that Machar was in discussion with President Salva Kiir.
Machar’s delayed return to the South Sudanese capital came months after the signing of anAugust 2015 peace agreement that hopes to bring an end to two years of civil war.
“We are expecting 10 ministers and four deputy ministers,” said Gatjiath, speaking by telephone from Juba, referring to the division of ministerial portfolios between the government and opposition.
The government is expected to get 16 ministerial portfolios and the armed opposition 10 ministers, under the deal brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional bloc. The remaining portfolios are expected to be split between an SPLM splinter known as the “former detainees” and other political parties.
