SPLM-IO submits names of nominated national MPs to JMEC per agreement

January 6, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The leadership of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) has submitted its full list of 50 nominated members to the would-be transitional national legislative assembly in Juba, in accordance with the peace agreement signed in August 2015.

The list was submitted to the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) on Tuesday. JMEC, chaired by the former president of Botswana, Festus Mogoe, is tasked by the peace agreement to oversee and monitor the implementation of the peace agreement. Its membership is drawn from all the parties to the agreement as well as regional and international bodies.

“Comrade General Taban Deng Gai has submitted to JMEC the names of 50 members of the SPLM (IO) who have been nominated to Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba. This is per the power sharing agreement,” James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for the opposition leader, Riek Machar, confirmed to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

He said the names were selected from the current 10 states of the country as stipulated in the peace agreement. The leader of the SPLM-IO, Riek Machar, he said, then composed the list for submission.

Dak said the SPLM-IO leadership and its membership are committed to not only the implementation of the peace agreement, but also for its speedy implementation in order to restore peace and stability to the country in ending the suffering of the people of South Sudan.

According to the peace agreement, the armed opposition faction would nominate additional 50 members to the current membership of national parliament, reinstate their former members, in reconstituting the national legislative assembly.

The new parliament will then deliberate on the would-be amended transitional constitution and endorse it so that it incorporates the peace agreement and becomes the basis for formation of a transitional government of national unity.

He also said the parties would from Tuesday and Wednesday start the process of selecting their respective national ministerial portfolios on rational basis as provided for in the agreement.

Government will select 16, SPLM-IO 10, former detainees 2 and other political parties 2, which will total 30 and become the next transitional cabinet.

(ST)