South Sudan&
Ruto said he had met with the opposition delegation and, at the request of the South Sudanese government, agreed to temporarily pause the negotiations.
The peace process, which stalled due to political disagreements, will resume on January 7, 2025.
The peace talks, which began in May 2024, experienced a setback in mid-July over concerns about aligning the process with South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement.
President Kiir dismissed the country’s army chief, police inspector-general, and central bank governor in a significant reshuffle following recent security concerns in the capital, Juba.
The impasse, now in its twelfth day, stems from unresolved grievances over extortion, arbitrary arrests, and insecurity faced by drivers along the Juba-Nimule Highway.
The incident, described by the national army as a "misunderstanding" between layers of security forces stationed at the home, left two soldiers wounded.
Analysts said the sacking of Akol Koor reflected a power struggle at the highest levels of government.
Kiir and Machar signed a peace agreement in September 2018 between the government and numerous opposition groups.
Ruto also announced plans to engage the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for broader regional and international support.
Faki reaffirmed the AU's commitment to support South Sudan's government and people throughout the political transition process and beyond.
On Monday, the lawyers challenging the action went to the Supreme Court, asking it to declare it "null and void."
Despite the hefty budget, Lomuro reassured that the High-Level Standing Committee would continue engaging institutions to bring the figure down to a more manageable level.
This extension shifts the end of the transitional period from February 2025 to February 2027 and moves the scheduled elections from December 2024 to December 2026.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains heavily dependent on its northern neighbour to export oil to international markets.
The Presidency highlighted that the remaining months of the current transitional period will focus on mobilising funds to ensure the effective implementation of the revitalised peace agreement.
UN missions there have said South Sudanese authorities are holding up United Nations fuel tankers over a tax dispute, jeopardising the delivery of millions of dollars of aid during a humanitarian crisis.
The proposed vote follows years of delays: An election was due to take place in 2015 but was postponed after the young country descended into civil war.
"The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan has left over 75 per cent of the population in desperate need, with many struggling to feed themselves and their families," Dodds added.
The question of equitable representation has been on the agenda for several years, including through the General Assembly’s open-ended working group and intergovernmental negotiations to address the issue.
The commission warned that without timely action on these fronts, the elections could face significant obstacles.
This development came days after the parties to the Kenya-led initiative signed eight protocols encompassing security, ceasefire, communal violence, arms proliferation, land disputes, trust-building, humanitarian access, and the role of guarantors.
The error occurred ahead of South Sudan's opening men's basketball game against Puerto Rico, which the East African nation won in a historic victory.
Organisers inadvertently played the anthem of neighbouring Sudan - but later apologised for the mistake.
The visit follows the recent Nairobi Tumaini Peace Initiative, which Kiir is keen to update Ramaphosa on, especially since the initiative has reset after First Vice President Riek Machar, who leads the main opposition party, pulled out of the talks.
The SPLM-IO's Political Bureau convened in Juba last Tuesday where it unanimously voted to exit the negotiations.
Machar accused the initiative of overstepping its mandate and undermining the East African Community's existing revitalised peace agreement and sovereignty, sending Kenyan mediators back to the drawing board.
The minister received the first consignment of 645,000 vaccines with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) alongside other stakeholders.
Machar accused the initiative of overstepping its mandate and undermining the East African Community's existing revitalised peace agreement and sovereignty, sending Kenyan mediators back to the drawing board.
The framework lays down some basic principles for the protection, sharing, and management of the Nile Basin.
Recent weeks have seen graphic images of South Sudanese nationals being thrown onto pick-up trucks and placed in congested waiting areas before deportation to states in South Sudan at the Sudanese border.
Kong Wiyual Bill highlighted challenges including the need for a census before elections and the presence of the Ugandan military in Juba.
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