Kalonzo starts his South Sudan peace envoy job

Sudan Special Envoy to South Sudan Amb. Jamal El Sheikh, the interim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Amb Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Amb. Ismail Wais, Kenya's Special Peace Envoy Kalonzo Musyoka and other officials in Djibouti on October 24 - Image: COURTESY

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka officially started his duties as Special Peace Envoy to South Sudan on Friday.

Kalonzo and colleague Jamal El Sheikh — collectively referred to as “Regional Special Envoys” — met in Djibouti, on Friday to assess the implementation of the peace process.

The former vice-president was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 2.

The Friday meeting was held three weeks before the November 12 deadline for the formation of the Revitalised Government of National Unity, according to a press release by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development secretariat on Saturday. 

Critical and consequential pre-transitional tasks are still pending.  

The special envoys were briefed by the interim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Augostino S.K. Njoroge on the status of implementation of pre-transitional tasks.

The envoys discussed among other issues transitional security arrangements, the number and boundaries of states and allocation of ministerial portfolios.

They also resolved to ensure better coordination and mobilisation of stakeholders to avoid further delay and ensure the necessary support for the South Sudan peace process.

International parties have raised concerns over the delay in the implementation of the deal.

British ambassador to South Sudan Christopher Trott told Voice of America on October 7 that the parties that signed the agreement in September 2018 should create a unified army and resolve the stalemate over the number of states in the country before forming the long-awaited Transitional Government of National Unity by November 12.

Trott was disappointed that all the key provisions have not been implemented.