South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar in Juba on December 17, 2019. They agreed to form a transitional government of national unity. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The South Sudan peace rigmarole has become fairly predictable. Raise public expectations by agreeing to something you don’t completely believe in, sign to deadlines you have no intention of honouring, and then find an excuse to wriggle out of your commitments.
That was likely the view of the many of people in South Sudan as the parties to the conflict drifted towards another deadline for establishment of a transitional government this weekend. Days to a crucial meeting in Addis, President Salva Kiir made a big concession when he climbed down from his desire for a 32 state South Sudan to 10, as had been demanded by former vice president Riek Machar.
