December 23, 2015 (JUBA) – European Union (EU) said the arrival of 150 members of the advance team of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) was crucial step towards implementing the peace agreement signed in August by President Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek Machar.

A team of rebel officials and government pay their respects to the late SPLM founder John Garang at John Garang’s Mausoleum in South Sudan’s capital Juba, December 21, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomun)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, EU said it will support the implementation process and urged both parties to expedite the formation of a transitional government of national unity to end the dire humanitarian situation.

“The arrival in Juba on 21 December 2015 of an advance team of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) represents a crucial step in the implementation of the peace agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan that was signed in August 2015,” EU statement partly reads.

The EU said South Sudan is affected by one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

“The humanitarian situation in the country is disastrous. It is crucial that all obstacles to full and unconditional humanitarian access are removed immediately and that lifesaving assistance is provided urgently to the South Sudanese people,” the press statement added.

The United States separately described the coming of SPLM-IO to Juba as a “milestone” and urged the government and all the stakeholders to use the gesture as a tool to overcome future obstacles in ending the war.

Earlier, the United Kingdom (UK) and Norway issued separate statements also commending the arrival of the SPLM-IO officials to the capital, saying this indicated that the opposition group was committed to the full implementation of the peace deal.

150 members of the SPLM-IO led by lead negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, arrived in Juba on Monday. Gai, a former governor of oil-rich Unity state, met president Kiir on Tuesday to discuss implementation of the peace agreement.

Other groups of the SPLM-IO, totalling the remaining 459, are expected in Juba before the end of the year. A total of 609 delegates will be in Juba and other states capitals as advance team before the arrival of former vice-president, Riek Machar, who will become a powerful first vice-president per the peace agreement.

A transitional government of national unity is expected to be formed during January 2016 with Machar expected to return to Juba by mid-January.

There are however many processes to be undertaken under the leadership and supervision of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) including amending the transitional constitution before the government can be formed.

(ST)