No unity government without new constitution: official

January 17, 2016 (JUBA) – The Transitional Government of National Unity will not be formed unless a transitional constitution is in place, a South Sudanese minister has said.

The country’s information minister, Michael Makuei told reporters that the new demand was from the armed opposition faction led by ex-vice president, Riek Machar.

It remains unclear when new the constitution will be in place.

Makuei said they expected the new government in place before a constitution is passed.

“We had agreed earlier that we go in for the formation of the transitional government of national unity without necessarily waiting for the constitution,” he told reporters Friday.

“This is something beyond our position, and there is no way we can insist that it should be set up as long as they are saying ‘no’,” he added.

On Thursday, Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak said the interim government of national unity would be formed only when the armed opposition leader returns to juba.

However, he said, Machar would not come to Juba if the interim constitution is not yet formed, and if the government has not revoked the decision to create the 28 states.

But Makuei said the decision by the president to split the 10 states was “irrevocable”.

(ST)