President Kiir to appoint all Vice Presidents and the full Government on 22 Feb

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the designated first Vice President of the Republic Dr Riek Machar have agreed to form the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on the 22 Feb. After the meeting, President Kiir addressed the media and called on all South Sudanese to embrace these changes for the sake of peace. Dr Riek Machar echoed his calls.

From Left: Advisor Tut, President Kiir, Dr Riek and Deputy Chair of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo Hemeti. Source: Supplied

Highlights

• President Kiir says he will appoint all Vice Presidents a day before the deadline for forming the government
• He says the South Sudanese economy is sinking, and it is time to embrace peace
• He appealed to South Sudanese people to give peace and chance and to embrace all these changes in the name of peace

President Kiir said that his immediate role was to appoint the Vice Presidents and then they will move on to form the full Government on Saturday the 22 Feb.

'As the President, there are two things that I will have to do now. The appointment of the Vice Presidents and I will start with the appointment Dr Riek Machar as the First Vice President. I will appoint them tomorrow morning (Friday). I will meet with them then on the 22 Feb, and we will form the new Government.'

President Salva Kiir signing documents Source: Supplied

President Kiir says all of the changes happening, including the reduction in the number of states from 32 to 10 states, was to open ways for peace. President Kiir said that internally displaced people across South Sudanese and those at the UNMISS's camps inside South Sudan should return to their homes after many years of suffering.

"I want to tell my people of South Sudan. All these changes are happening are changes made to bring peace. They are not changes that will bring war. We are tired of war and war can stop the growth of the economy. If we stop for the next three years, then we will see differences between the situation that we were in now and how the economy will grow (during peace). This is what I wanted to tell you, stay where you are and be happy because we need our people in the UNMISS camps whether in Wau, Bor, here in Juba and those in displaced camps to return to their homes. The sun for peace is now rising," he said on Thursday. 

Chairman of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM /IO) Dr Riek Machar who is also one of the designated Vice Presidents, spoke shortly after President Kiir. He acknowledged having discussed the outstanding issues and at the same time agreed to form the Government. Dr Riek Machar congratulated the people of South Sudan for having achieved peace.

"We have talked and discussed some of the outstanding issues with the H.E the President. The announcement that was made to return the number of numbers to ten states. We have agreed to form the Government in two days, and I can say congratulations to all of you."