The former political detainees have welcomed IGAD’s call for a quick formation of a transitional government.

In a communique released early this week, IGAD said the parties to the agreement should first establish the government and use it to enable dialogue over the creation of more states.

In a statement, the spokesman of the group, John Luk Jok, said the unity government will improve building of trust and confidence among the parties.

“It’s our hope that all the parties to the agreement will take seriously the recommendations contained in the communiqué, and agree to expeditiously establish the transitional government of national unity and to subsequently engage positively on the issue of 28 states,” Mr Luk said.

He called for unity behind full implementation of the peace agreement and urged the people to work for reconciliation and forgiveness.

On the reunification of the SPLM, Mr Luk said his group is satisfied that the Arusha Agreement has been integrated into the SPLM constitution during an emergency national convention last December.

The group has already named those who should take up positions allotted to them by the peace deal – Deng Alor as foreign ministry and Mr Luk himself as the minister of transport.