The Minister of Finance has notified the Former Political Detainees that the government will not continue paying for their accommodation in a hotel in Juba.

David Deng Athorbei says the government has no funds to continue paying indefinitely and will end the accommodation tomorrow.

In a letter dated 19th of March, Mr Athorbei said the government has been accommodating the former detainees since December as a first step towards implementation of the peace deal.

He said this was done in the hope that the implementation would be effective in the shortest time possible, but for the last three months, no concrete steps have been taken to implement the deal.

“Over three months have passed and we are seeing no concrete steps taken for implementation for peace agreement,” Mr Athorbei said in the letter.

“In light of the above quoted reality, the government has no funds to continue paying accommodation in hotel indefinietly,” it read in part.

“Therefore this letter is to convey to your honor that the government will not pay for the accommodation of Former Detainees Team with effect from 24th March 2016.”

In response, the acting leader of the former detainees, Deng Alor Kuol, said his group has been doing its part in implementing the agreement and should not be faulted for any delay.

In a letter dated the 23rd of March, Mr Alor said his group came to Juba four times before the signing of the peace agreement to show desire and commitment for peace and reconciliation.

Mr Alor said his team has also been participating in committees established under the agreement and has presented its nominees to JMEC for the transitional government of national unity.

“Therefore, if the reason for the termination of our accommodation is due to the above stated ‘lack of concrete steps taken towards implementation of the peace agreement’, then we cannot be faulted for this because we have discharged all that was required of us by the agreement,” the letter reads in part.

He said it is still the responsibility of the government to continue providing security and accommodating the officials as the implementation is yet to be pursued.

“We came to Juba on the strength of the government’s assurances of security and accommodation,” the letter read.

“As implementation of the peace agreement is still to be earnestly pursued, it remains the responsibility of the government to facilitate the process including the provision of security and accommodation for the group and others connected with the mechanisms for implementation of the agreement,” Mr Alor concluded the letter.