Dhieu Mathok, Secretary General of the SPLM-IO faction under the leadership of the country’s First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, has urged the opposition fighting against the regime to join the dialogue process and get prepared for the upcoming elections.

Chapter 1, Article 16 of the peace agreement is about general elections in South Sudan. The agreement says that the President and First Vice President will agree on the formation of a National Elections Commission.

According to the 2015 peace deal, the elections must take place 60 days before the end of the transitional period, which will be in 2018.

“We have one year ahead to prepare for elections… the implementation of the peace agreement is now progressing well , so we urge the armed opposition to join the national dialogue process,” Dhieu said.

Dhieu said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the people of South Sudan need a renewed leadership.” So people should get prepared so that there is a renewed leadership in the country and even a new style of leadership. Those who want power it is their chance to get prepared for elections,” he said.

 Dhieu, who is also a ministry for electricity, called on the armed opposition groups to lay down their arms saying the ongoing conflict is senseless. “Now there is a pogrom for reforms in the country, we are implementing the signed peace agreement,” he said.

He stressed that the signed peace agreement is still alive and that the unity government is working for peace and stability in the country.