President Salva Kiir has agreed to allow the SPLM-In Opposition to nominate a prime minister as part of the transitional government of national unity.

A six-page proposal issued by IGAD shows that the Prime Minister would be chosen by the SPLM-In Opposition, and approved by President Kiir.

President Kiir would keep his position during the 30-month transitional period.

Dr. Riek Machar did not sign the proposal, which was endorsed by seven heads of state including President Salva Kiir.

IGAD chief mediator for South Sudan Peace dialogue, Ambassador Seyum Mesfin, said they want South Sudan to have a stable transitional period.

“We will focus on the interest of their position, interest of moving this forward into stable transitional arrangements and move beyond the transitional arrangements by establishing an elected government for South Sudan,” said Amb Mesfin.

A South Sudanese scholar says leader of the SPLM-SPLA in Opposition should not accept the position of a Prime Minister.

The Executive Director of Sudd Institute, Dr. Jok Madut Jok, says Dr. Riek Machar, should not put himself forward for any position in the proposed transitional government of National Unity.

“if Riek was somebody who wants to really proves himself as a statesman, I would say if the SPLM in Opposition was offered for the position of Prime Minister, Riek should give it to somebody else within his team and he himself abstains from involvement in the transitional government of national unity, and meanwhile spends most of his energy in organizing his party and planning for the elections so that he runs for the head of state not for prime minister,” said Dr Jok.

The IGAD proposal says the Prime Minister will not be eligible to stand for any public office in the national elections that will take place at the end of the transitional period.