Deputy President David Mabuza on Thursday concluded and adjourned a Consultative Meeting of Parties, as part of his mission to facilitate a solution to the issue of states and their boundaries in South Sudan.

The Deputy President in his capacity as Special Envoy to South Sudan facilitated the consultative meeting with the aim of finding an agreement on the number of states and their boundaries, which was one of the outstanding issues towards the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity.

The meeting, which began in December 2019, was adjourned after parties could not reach an agreement on the number of states before the extended period, which ends this month.

“Whereas the parties have failed to find common ground, we are encouraged that they remain committed to peace and in forming the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity by the end of the extended period, as the people of South Sudan want peace and prosperity,” said Mabuza.

Mabuza co-facilitated the meeting with Kenya Special Envoy to South Sudan Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Sudan Special Envoy to South Sudan Ambassador Jamal El Sheikh, senior adviser to the Ugandan President on South Sudan Betty Bigombe and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy to South Sudan Ambassador Ismail Wais.

The Special Envoys will table a final report of the meeting to the IGAD Council of Ministers and Summit.