Marshall sworn in as First Vice President of the Transitional Coalition Government of South Sudan

Marshall sworn in as First Vice President of the Transitional Coalition Government of South Sudan

Xinhua News Agency, Nairobi, February 22 (Reporter Bai Lin) Juba News: Rik Marshall, former leader of South Sudan ’s largest opposition, was sworn in as the first vice president of the South Sudan Transitional United Government.

At the inauguration ceremony held in Juba, South Sudan's capital, along with Marshall, three Vice Presidents of the Transitional United Government were sworn in. After being sworn in, Marshall stated that he will work closely with President Kiel to implement the peace agreement signed in 2018 and work for peace in South Sudan.

Kiel said that the establishment of the South Sudan Transitional United Government on the same day meant that "peace has come to South Sudan" and was "irreversible."

However, the list of another vice-president of the Transitional Coalition Government and other members of the cabinet originally scheduled to be announced on the 22nd was not announced that day.

According to South Sudanese media reports, the Transitional United Government will run for three years, paving the way for general elections.

Recently, Kiel reduced the 32 states established in 2017 to 10 states identified by the opposition. On the 21st, Kiel dissolves the government, and the main government members will remain in office until the transitional coalition government is formed. On the same day, Kiel appointed Marshall as the first vice president of the Transitional Coalition Government.

Since the independence of South Sudan from Sudan on July 9, 2011, armed conflicts have continued in the country, and state building has been stagnant. In July 2013, Kiel dismissed the government and dismissed the then First Vice President Marshall. In December of the same year, Kiel accused Marshall of plotting a coup and an armed conflict broke out on both sides. In April 2016, the two factions jointly participated in the formation of a national unity and transitional government. However, in July of the same year, the two armed forces clashed again, and Marshall fled the capital, Juba.

In September 2018, the parties to the conflict in South Sudan signed a peace agreement in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and agreed to share power and form a transitional coalition government. The agreement stipulates that a transitional coalition government will be formed before May 12, 2019. The government will have five vice presidents, with Marshall as first vice president, and the remaining four vice presidents from different parties. However, the formation of a transitional coalition government has been repeatedly delayed because of differences between the various factions.