The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan welcomed plans for the government and the opposition to collaborate in the oil-rich Unity State.
Lt. Gen. Shailesh Sadashiv Tinaikar, who recently visited the region, is keen to get additional information on how both parties intend to the military provisions of the peace agreement signed last year.
“IO and SSPDF have planned to work together. That is an excellent move. As of now, here the IO has not yet come up and joined up with the SSPDF, but I do hope that they come and do so in the near future,” Tinaikar said.
The implementation of the deal has been delayed with the government citing lack of funds to support the disarmament and consolidation of all the armed factions.
More than 1 million people have been displaced internally since fighting broke out in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar.
In March last year, the UN sent 150 peacekeepers to Unity state to guard civilians who were targeted in clashes between the government and rebel fighters.
Machar recently visited the capital Juba and met President Kiir in an attempt at ironing out outstanding issues. The meeting reignited hope for progress in the delayed peace process.
The two leaders agreed to form a transitional government byNovember 12, according to the country’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.
