S’Sudan extends President Kiir’s term for two years

PRESIDENT Salva Kiir’s and members of parliament were elected in April 2010, one year before the country split from Sudan (EPA),

South Sudan’s cabinet postponed elections and extended President Kiir’s term in office for two years, the country’s information minister said, apparently sinking a peace agreement aimed to end 14 months of war.

  “We have passed a resolution extending the tenure of the president and the parliament, including all elected positions,” Information Minister, Michael Makuei, told AFP news agency at the weekend.

The announcement came after the decision was taken by the government’s council of ministers to postpone elections until July 9, 2017.

  The decision goes against a deal struck between Kiir and rebel chief, Riek Machar earlier this month, in which they agreed to set up a transitional unity government in the bitterly divided nation to run for 30 months from July 9.