Meeting between President Kiir, Machar rescheduled to Friday

March 8, 2023 (JUBA) – A meeting planned between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar has been rescheduled to Friday.

The meeting is intended to discuss the recent decrees and order in which Kiir unilaterally sacked the Defense and Interior ministers, swapping both ministries.

The armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar rejected the unilateral removal of the Defence minister, calling for reinstatement.

“The office of the First Vice President of the Republic would like to inform the general public that the meeting scheduled for Thursday between the principals, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan and H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, First Vice President, Chairman and Commander- in Chief of SPLM/SPLA-IO has been rescheduled to Friday, March 10th, 2023,” partly reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

It was not immediately established why Thursday’s meeting was postponed.

In August last year, the parties to the revitalized peace agreement announced the extension of the transitional government for an additional 24 months.

(ST)