South Sudan

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Saturday the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in South Sudan. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief commended the parties for the “significant achievement in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan”.

Rival leaders will form a unity government on Saturday, raising hopes the country can rebuild, and aid agencies can reach more of those in need.

South Sudan’s former rebel leader Riek Machar said he has agreed to form a unity government with President Salva Kiir following a meeting at state house on Thursday. “We had a meeting with the president on the outstanding issues. We have agreed to form the government on 22 Feb.”

Kiir said the country would now be divided among the original 10 states, plus three "administrative areas" of Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei.

With only20 days before to the February 22 deadline for the formation of a unity government, security arrangements in South Sudan appear to have gained momentum as former holdouts to the peace process are sending feelers for their inclusion in the government of national unity.

The Trump administration’s top Africa diplomat lashed out at South Sudan’s rulers on Monday, and urged the country’s warring parties to defer agreement on “sticky issues” until after a transitional government is formed.

South Sudan is staring at another failed attempt to form a transitional government on February 22 after all the opposition parties rejected calls for arbitration on the differences over number of states.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Thursday accepted the referral of his dispute with the other peace partners on the number of states and their boundaries to a regional arbitration panel. The announcement was made after a meeting with IGAD and South African envoys by South Africa’s Deputy President David Mabuza.

South Sudan’s government and main rebel groups that had refused to sign a peace deal have inched closer to ending hostilities with a declaration to continue holding dialogue, a symbolic move that could help unify the country.

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, accusing him of serious human rights abuses and trying to derail the country’s peace process.