South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar took the oath of office as First Vice President on Saturday formally rejoining the government.
Dr Machar and three other vice presidents of South Sudan were sworn in, on the deadline to form the new unity government.
The country had until Saturday February 22 to form the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).
The leaders who were sworn in are First Vice President Machar, Second Vice President James Wani Igga, Third Vice President Taban Deng Gai and Fourth Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of the late Dr. John Garang.
Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan and South Africa’s Deputy President David Mabuza were at the ceremony.
President Salva Kiir did not announce the fifth VP. The chair remains vacant as the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have not settled on a candidate for the position.
In a letter to the President dated February 20, 2020, seen by Nation, SSOA nominated four members of the alliance from their various political parties — Gabriel Changson, Denay Jock, Josephine Lagu and Joseph Bakasoro. The Alliance asked President Kiir to choose the best candidate, among the four, for the VP post.
The Alliance said it would abide by Mr Kiir’s decision. However, the president did not announce a candidate for the position.
President is also expected to announce the new leaders in the 614-member R-TGoNU.
Earlier in the day, reports indicated that some parties to the peace agreement had not nominated members to the 550-member transitional legislative assembly, despite the deadline to do so.
The country was supposed to have a fully constituted government by the end of the deadline.
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