The former President of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, says he is pleased with his appointment as the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.

The chairman of IGAD and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn named him to the position last week.

In a letter, Mr Dessalegn said he appointed Mr Festus after consultations with regional leaders.

Mr Festus has told Eye Radio that he is happy with his appointment.

“It can be my humble time to be appointed by IGAD, which is an honor,” he said.

“It is a challenge itself, but we already know I had already looked forward to the question of South Sudan, and the people who are now fighting with each other are people with whom we have been involved for a longtime when they were fighting for their liberation.”

According to the peace agreement, the JMEC will oversee the implementation of the deal and the mandate of the transitional government of national unity.

It shall be reporting to the South Sudan Council of Ministers, the African Union and the UN Secretary General every three months.

According the deal, the JMEC shall be composed of six representatives of the signatories, seven members of the stakeholders, 12 members of the regional guarantors and seven partners and friends of South Sudan.

The agreement, which was signed in August, states that IGAD should initiate the formation of JMEC within 15 days after signing.

Mr Festus said he will travel to Addis Ababa tomorrow.