South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dissolved parliament, paving the way for the appointment of Lawmakers from opposing sides in the country’s five-year civil war.
Activists and civil society groups say the move is long overdue. Edmund Yakani of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation – one of the civil society groups that signed the peace deal called for a speedy process.
Speaking to newsmen, Yakani said it should not take weeks or months and that if possible, the president should appoint the new parliament by Monday.
A peace deal signed three years ago determined that almost a quarter of the MPs would come from the party of Mr Kiir’s former foe, Riek Machar though majority of the 550 legislators will be from the governing SPLM party.
South Sudan’s MPs will not be elected but will instead be nominated by different political parties.
A unity government has been in place for over a year, but following numerous outbreaks of inter-ethnic conflict the UN has warned of a risk of a return to large-scale conflict in South Sudan.
Insecurity is still rife across South Sudan and has prevented many farmers – who have been forced to flee their homes – from planting or harvesting crops, causing food shortages nationwide.
There are also warnings from the UN’s World Food Programme that more than seven million people in South Sudan will suffer acute food insecurity over the coming months. Also a recent report by the UN has called for the arms embargo to be extended, and for new sanctions against people who hinder the implementation of the peace deal
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