South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Andrea Arop Malek
The government has rejected the request by opposition parties to draft the constitution in Nairobi, capital of South Sudan.
Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, said during press conference in Juba, that the opposition groups under the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) requested the drafting of the permanent constitution to be shifted to Nairobi, where the government is engaging them in peace talks since May 2,2024.
Makuei said that the opposition requested that the first phase of the permanent constitution drafting take place in Nairobi, and the second phase be in South Sudan.
He disclosed that the government rejected this proposal from the opposition.
Makuei noted that despite disagreement on the venue of the constitution drafting, they remain closer to reaching final agreement with the opposition.
He also dismissed allegations that they plan to reduce the size of the current transition government in juba.
Makuei disclosed that weak institutions and lack of funding are the two major challenges hampering the speedy implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
The government and the opposition parties attending the “Tumaini peace talks” mediated by the Kenyan government have so far adopted the rules of procedure.
The opposition parties at the ongoing talks include the South Sudan United Front/ Army led by former army commander Gen. Paul Malong Awan,, Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Pagan Amum, the former Secretary General of the ruling SPLM party.
The other parties are South Sudan People’s Movement / Army and a faction of the National Salvation Front (NAS), and the pressure group People’s Coalition Civil Action (PCCA).
