S. Sudan leader gets 5 days to decide on state borders

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Sunday received a five-day deadline from a leading East Africa nation bloc to decide on state boundaries in the country.

The number and boundaries of regional states have been a major sticking point in the long drawn out disagreement between South Sudan government and opposition forces on forming a transitional government of national unity.

With a looming deadline to form a transitional government by Feb. 22, Kiir asked the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders for some time for consultations with his constituents on the matter.

The IGAD leaders met on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdock presided over the tripartite meeting with Kiir, his main rival Riek Machar and the IGAD secretariat.

Earlier, IGAD foreign ministers proposed that the transitional government of national unity -- to be formed soon in line with a 2018 Addis Ababa agreement -- encompass 27 federal regional states, five less from what Kiir would like to have.

The proposal for 27 federal regional states in South Sudan was initially met with stiff opposition from Kiir and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The communique the IGAD leaders issued on Monday said that Kiir will “report back to the IGAD Chair on the 15th of February 2020".

They also emphasized the need to speak in one voice and avoid parallel processes that would further complicate the situation.