South Sudan appeals for foreign assistance after forming unity government

April 29, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan president, Salva Kiir, has appealed for global support, arguing there should be no reason to hold assistance after forming transitional government of national unity.

“The people who were saying that you cannot be supported unless you form the transitional government of national unity, if they have agents here, they should report back to them that the government has been established,” said president Kiir after overseeing the swearing in of cabinet ministers.

The president spoke on Friday at the first meeting attended by two of his deputies, Riek Machar and James Wani Igga.

He asserted it was time for foreign governments and international organizations to provide financial assistance to the new government so that it helps implement the peace deal.

The transitional government of national unity brings together politicians from the government and the armed opposition under the overall leadership of the first vice president, Riek Machar, who has been at war with President Kiir for two years.

The cabinet also includes non-armed opposition forces, led by Lam Akol Ajawin and Martin Elia Lomoro.

Speaking at the same function, the first vice president, Riek Machar, said the new government must deal with violence if the peace was to be realized by the general population, regardless of obstacles.

“If our people feel in Juba that they cannot walk by night, even if we preach peace to them, they say, ‘we don’t see it,” said Machar who appointed 10 senior ministers and 2 junior ministers in the cabinet.

(ST)