Government Reiterates Commitment To Support SPLM-IO In Juba

By Jok P Mayom

JUBA, 02 February 2016 [Gurtong- The Government of the Republic of South Sudan said it will continue supporting ‘essential members’ of the SPLM/A-IO advance team by catering for their accommodation cost in Juba until the Transitional Government of National Unity is formed.

Ateny Wek Ateny, the Presidential Spokesperson told Gurtong that some of the SPLM-IO members are meant to go to the States and therefore the government will only support those required to remain in the capital.

“The government has agreed to continue to support the essential advance team, the other members who were meant to go to the States will go to the States. Until the time of the formation of the TGoNU” said Ateny.

He said the only members who are required to remain in the capital are those who will be in ministerial portfolios.

“The days are not mentioned, the time is bound to the implementation of the TGONU when the TGONU is formed.”

Taban Deng Gai, the SPLM/A-IO Chief Negotiator and Head of the Advance team told the media after his meeting with President Salva Kiir on Monday that the government has given assurance to support his team.

“Last time we were supported by TROIKA, and then the government took over but the accommodation of the government expired on the 31st January 2016. Now the President has given directives to the committee chaired by David Deng Athorbei, the Minister of Finance to continue funding this advance team” Gai said.

“…… meanwhile we do appreciate some issues, to cut down the number of the advance team to maintain those who have essential work with  the implementation of the peace process and those members of the parliament who are waiting for the expected Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba” he said.

Troika countries; the United States of America, Norway and United Kingdom stopped its financial support on January 22nd 2016, saying South Sudanese rival leaders failed to form a transitional government of National Unity (TGoNU) which was slated for the January 22nd dateline set by the IGAD-Plus.

The government later continued the accommodation of the team in the same hotel, ‘Juba Grand Hotel’ which they are now reiterating their efforts to continue with the support.

However, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediating the peace process between the South Sudanese rivals are pushing to see the TGoNU is formed to end the over 2 years of conflict in the country.