IGAD proposes key points of agreement between South Sudanese parties
June 12, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has unveiled a proposed draft agreement between president Salva Kiir’s government and armed opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former vice president, Riek Machar, in ending the 18-month long civil war in the country.
The draft agreement proposed to maintain incumbent president Kiir as head of state while the opposition leader, Machar, becomes the first vice president. The incumbent James Wani Igga would also continue as vice president. Executive powers or roles between the three top executives would be negotiated by the parties.
On power-sharing at the national level the government would take 53% of ministerial portfolios while SPLM-IO would be given 33% and 14% divided between former detainees and other political parties.
The president would chair both National Defense Council and National Security Council and to be deputized by the first vice president in the two councils, respectively.
In the national legislative assembly the current 332 membership would be confirmed and those dismissed after the war would be reinstated including members of the SPLM-IO who were previously parliamentarians before the war. Additional 50 members would be appointed by SPLM-IO leader and added to the 332. Other 16 members would come from the other political parties while the former detainees would add 1 member.
The total membership of the national legislative assembly would become 400. There was no however mention about power-sharing in the Council of States, an upper house of the national legislature.
At the states level states of greater Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria regions would remain not affected by the agreement. But a new power-sharing agreement would be effected in the states of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei of greater Upper Nile region. In the IGAD proposal, government would get 33%, SPLM-IO 53% and 14% divided equally between former detainees and other political parties.
A new government in the three states of greater Upper Nile region including governors would be reconstituted within one month from the commencement of the transitional period.
Unification process of the two armies of the government and SPLM-IO will be completed within 18 months from the date of formation of transitional period of 30 months. President Kiir and chairman Machar would be commanders-in-chief of their respective armies before completion of the unification process.
Juba as the national capital, according to the proposal, would be declared a demilitarized zone. Its security would be provided by forces from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and IGAD member states.
There shall be 3 months of pre-interim period before commencement of transitional period and formation of the government of national unity.
Composition of elections commission would be reconstituted and the elections would be conducted 60 days before the end of the 30-month transitional period.
The draft agreement also left the question of federalism to the constitution making process which will take place during the transitional period. It also called for reforms, accountability and reconciliation which details are yet to be worked out.
The IGAD proposal is however a skeleton draft whose details are yet to be worked out by the parties to the conflict when talks resume in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, likely at the end of this month.
(ST)
Click on this link hereunder to read the full text of the IGAD proposals