In unexpected move which is described as a breakthrough, the South Sudan’s presidency has agreed to review the 28 states and come up with a recommendation on the number of new states within 30 days.

The resolution came out after a joint meeting of the President, Salva Kiir, First Vice President, Riek Machar and Vice President, James Wani, at the presidential palace yesterday.

In a joint statement to the press by the two deputies after the meeting, a committee of 15 members will be constituted from all the parties to the August 2015 peace agreement and from the international partners to come up with recommendation on new states.

“We discussed the issue of the 28 states. We decided to tackle this through a committee. That committee will be composed of 15 members…So that they can work on the number of states, review them and they come up with recommendation on the number of the states and this will be within 30 days. Within 30 days this work will be done,” said First Vice President, Riek Machar, in a press statement to the media following the meeting, also broadcasted on the South Sudan TV, (SSTV) on Wednesday evening.

Machar said the 15 members of the committee will include 10 South Sudanese from the parties in the peace deal and 5 others from the international partners. He added that they would ask South Africa and Tanzania to bring in two members from their countries.

Also, Vice President, James Wani, who also spoke to the press with Machar, confirmed the outcome of the joint meeting of the Presidency with President Kiir’s participation.

“Really, I have nothing to say further, what the First Vice President has just articulated is absolutely in place. These are the issues we agreed on,” Vice President Wani said.

“But one would want to underline the fact that the meeting of today by the three of us has been one of the most successful meetings,” Wani added.

He reaffirmed that the inclusive committee to be formed will not only review the number of states but also work and recommend on their new boundaries within 30 days. It was not however clear when the committee will be formed to start their work on the new states.

Machar also said the Wednesday meeting tackled the need to release prisoners of war on both sides.

He also said the presidency has agreed to come up with a budget for cantonment of forces in the country.

The rest of the remaining issues, they said, will be tackled during the coming Friday’s council of ministers meeting.

Earlier, in a 31 January resolution, the East African regional bloc, IGAD, which brokered the peace agreement, called on the parties to form a boundary commission to work on the number of new states within 30 days, or revert to the current 10 states in case of no agreement.

Observers close to the decision making processes in the rival parties say the most probable outcome will be for the parties to revert to the 10 states, citing lack of agreement.

Earlier, the government said the issue of the 28 states was a ‘red line’ and refused to review them, but the Wednesday breakthrough has come as a positive step.

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The East African Community will establish the Regional Council for People with Disabilities in the Financial Year 2016/17, Uganda’s Minister for East African Affairs has said.

Alhajji Kirunda Kivejinja, who represented the EAC Council of Ministers and is also the Ugandan Third Deputy Prime Minister, made the revelation in Arusha during the passing of legislation granting Persons with Disabilities with full protection to enjoy their rights as enjoyed by other citizens of the region.

Moved by Hon Dr James Ndahiro, the East African Community Persons with Disability Bill, 2015, is premised under Article 120 (c) of the EAC Treaty, and in his justification Dr Ndahiro said it was necessary for PWDs to access all the infrastructure within their social systems.

The debate on the Bill was preceded by the Report of the Committee on General Purpose on the same subject matter presented by the Chairperson, Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo.

The report was a culmination of public hearings held in the Partner States and it followed intensive consultation with various stakeholders. The Committee also observed that the Partner States largely agreed on most provisions of the Bill which were among others need for assessment and interventions at all levels including pre-school inclusiveness education, sensitisation and awareness raising, equal opportunities and affirmative action.

The Committee further seeks the provision of tax exempted free mobile assisted devices, learning materials, need for disaggregated data by disability groupings, vulnerability and marginalization, as well as a financial assistance through cash transfers grants and various specific amenities.
During debate Hon Abubakar Zein noted that the rights of PWDS amounts to human rights. He challenged the Assembly to amend its Standing Orders to ensure the rights of all PWDs was also taken into consideration.

Hon Dora Byamukama remarked that a timeframe was necessary to determine when the Council of Ministers establishes a Regional Council for People with Disabilities. The legislator said data and statistics collection on matters around PWDs were key for consideration as it enhances decision making.
Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye said the treatment of PWDs in society needs to change, while  Hon Christophe Bazivamo termed the passage of the Bill as timely.

Others who supported the debate included EALA MPs Emerence Bucumi,  Frederic Ngenzebuhoro,  AbuBakr Ogle, Hafsa Mossi, Judith Pareno and Isabelle Ndahayo. Dr Martin Nduwimana and Mike Sebalu also supported the Bill.

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