JUBA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's main rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), on Wednesday urged parties to the conflict to resolve outstanding issues pending the formation of a unity government slated for Nov. 12.
Mabior Garang de Mabior, the chairman of SPLM-IO National Committee for Information and Public Relations, said that amicable solution to outstanding issues is key to facilitate the formation of a unity government in the world's youngest republic.
"The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-opposition (SPLM-IO) would like to state for the record that a coerced peace will never prevail in South Sudan and forming the transitional government of national unity under a false pretext that we shall discuss the outstanding issues as a unity government is a mockery of justice," Mabior said in a statement.
He said the outstanding issues include the implementation of the transitional security arrangements and the number and boundaries of states.
The Pre-Transitional National Committee, a body overseeing the implementation of the deal, said it's making efforts towards implementing fundamental provisions that will pave way for the formation of an inclusive government as stipulated in the peace deal.
Signatories to the fragile peace agreement on May 3 agreed to extend the formation of the transitional government by six months following delays in the implementation of the pact over unresolved issues.
South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar leading to fighting among soldiers loyal to both leaders. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions both internally and externally. A peace deal signed in 2015 collapsed after renewed violence in July 2016 forcing Machar to flee the capital Juba.
In September 2018, the warring South Sudanese parties also signed a revitalized peace deal, in which Machar will take up one of the four vice presidency positions in the transitional government.
