Transitional Powersharing Government – 2020
2020
After two extensions of the Pre-Transition Period and under tremendous pressure from the international community, the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) was established on 22nd February 2020. The SPLM-IO leader Reik Machar took the oath of the First Vice President. A nominee of former detainees (FD’s) Rebecca Nyandeng De’Mabior, Hussien Abdelbaggi (South Sudan Opposition Alliance nominee), Wani Igga (Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity), and Tabang Deng were appointed vice presidents.[1]
As part of the RTGoNU, President Salva Kiir appointed a 35 member cabinet on March 12. Among the cabinet ministers, 20 members were affiliated to Salva Kiir’s party, the SPLM-IO received nine positions, SSOA and FDs (Former Detainees) received three and two ministries respectively, and one ministry was given to other political parties.[2] Among the ministers, nine or 26% were women, which did not meet the 35% requirement of the R-ARCSS.[3]
After a meeting between Kiir and Machar in June, the president appointed governors from his side in six out of ten states (Unity, Eastern Equatoria, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Central Equatoria, and Lakes) and administrators for the three administrative regions. Reik Machar’s SPLM-IO received the governorship of three states (Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Equatoria). The SSOA was allocated to receive a governorship in the state of Jonglei. The SSOA opposed the allocation of governorship. Also, the governors of the Jonglei state and Upper Nile state were not appointed in June.[4]
Nine of ten state governors were appointed by the end of October 2020. Under an agreement reached between the signatories that month, the SPLM/A-IO was chosen to appoint the governor of Upper Nile. The SPLM/A-IO nominate has not been approved by President Kiir. The Transitional National Legislature was not appointed in 2020. [5]
[1] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1st January to 31st March 2020,” Report No. 6. Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, April 20, 2020.
[2] “South Sudan announces Cabinet for unity government.” Anadolu Agency, March 12, 2020.
[3] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1st January to 31st March 2020,” Report No. 6. Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, April 20, 2020.
[4] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1st April to 30th June, 2019,” Report No.7. Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, July 15, 2020.
[5] “RJMEC report on the status of implementation of the revitalized agreement on the resolutions of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, for the period 1st October to 31st December 2020,” Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluations Commission, February 2, 2021.