South Sudan convenes first cabinet meeting after forming unity government
May 6, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s newly formed transitional government of national unity (TGoNU) on Friday held its first cabinet meeting 10 days after forming the unity government comprising different political parties.
The Friday’s move has raised hopes among citizens from across the country as well as the global community who saw that the new development would help stop the war and improve poor economic situation.
President Salva Kiir chaired the meeting at which he was seen smiling as he shook hands with his first deputy in government, Riek Machar, who too returned the greeting of the president with broad smile.
The meeting was also attended by Vice President, James Wani Igga, who was seen accompanying Machar in the cabinet hall as he was being introduced to new faces in the cabinet and getting greeted.
This was the second official function at which President Kiir and Machar have had the opportunity to speak to cabinet ministers drawn from their respective groups, following formation of the unity government.
The two leaders first met in the country on the arrival of Machar on 26 April, 2016, and again at the swearing in ceremony of the ministers following dissolution of the previous cabinet and appointment of new ministers.
Machar later met ministers at an induction function on Thursday which President Kiir did not attend.
Speaking at the induction workshop for the ministers, Machar called for cooperation and forgiveness among the former warring parties, turned peace partners in a coalition government which will run for 30 months.
He also called for release of any citizens who may have been arrested in connections with war, stressing that the signing of the August 2015 peace agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the country and subsequent formation of unity government was an indication that war has ended, urging that people in detention in connection with views related to war should now be released from detention without other condition.
He also urged the new unity government to address the contentious matter of the controversial 28 states, fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the United Nations manned camps.
He also urged for resolution on the need for cantonment of opposition forces across the country and to stabilize the security of the capital, Juba.
(ST)