UK applauds arrival of SPLM-IO advance team to Juba

December 21, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Kingdom (UK) has welcomed the return of the 150-member of the advance team of the armed opposition faction, SPLM-IO, who arrived in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, on Monday evening, saying the parties should now begin full implementation of the peace agreement they signed in August to end more than 21 months of the civil war in South Sudan.

In a statement the UK embassy in Juba released on Monday, the western nation, which played a leading role in sponsoring the peace negotiations, said the arrival of the team was an important step in the peace implementation.

“The United Kingdom welcomes the return of the advance party of the SPLM in Opposition…,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, signed by Nerys Cross, head of political affairs and press in the UK embassy.

“We now expect the various bodies set out in the agreement to be formed and call on them to work quickly and efficiently in order to set up the Transitional Government of National Unity,” it said.

The statement also urged all parties to end the fighting “once and for all” and pledged support to those who will be committed to its full implementation.

“With other international partners we stand ready to support those who are committed to implementing the peace agreement and achieving a peaceful and prosperous future for South Sudan,” the statement assured.

UK, United States and Norway, make up what is known as the Troika and have been actively involved in the peace process and in the finalization of the compromise peace agreement which ended the war in August.

The parties will from now on engage in many other processes in implementing the agreement before a transitional government of national unity can be formed by 22 January 2016.

(ST)