The United States has welcomed the appointment of former President of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, as the chairman for the South Sudan Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.

IGAD chairman and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn named Mr Festus for the position last week.

“A prominent leader of accomplishment and moral authority, President Mogae will lead a group of international experts responsible for overseeing and supporting the implementation of all aspects of the agreement,” the US state department spokesperson, John Kirby, said in a statement.

“The United States welcomes his appointment and will work closely with him and other international partners to help the South Sudanese people revitalize their dream of achieving peace and building a new nation,” he said.

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.

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.

Mr Kirby said that “through successful implementation”, the US seeks “to restore the spirit of hope and promise shared by South Sudanese people upon independence in 2011.”

“We look forward to receiving President Mogae in Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks to coordinate our efforts to accomplish this goal,” he said.

The South Sudanese government in Juba has also welcomed the appointment of Mr Festus, saying it would work with him to ensure the peace agreement is implemented.

Mr Festus has also said he is pleased with his appointment.