A South Sudanese observer has advised the parties to the peace agreement to focus on how to resolve outstanding issues in the agreement instead of calling on holdout opposition oppositions to join the peace process now.

Last week, President Salva Kiir and the leader of the SPLM-IO, Riek Machar issued a call to the holdout opposition groups to join the revitalized peace agreement.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj last Thursday, James Okuk, a political analyst and lecturer based in Juba said the parties to the peace agreement should first resolve their differences and form a transitional government that is capable of negotiating with armed movements instead of escaping from real issues.

“The parties must implement the security arrangements, resolve the issue of states and form a transitional government to negotiate with those who rejected the peace deal,” Okuk said.

Okuk pointed out that the issue of states requires a political decision and should not be evaded by President Salva Kiir and the leader of the SPLM-IO, Riek Machar.

“Riek Machar created 21 states and Salva Kiir divided the country into 32 states. That is why the two principals have to make a political decision and consult the other parties in order to reach a satisfactory understanding,” he stressed.

The South Sudanese intellectual also praised the parties to the peace agreement for the "positive steps in the implementation process."

In September 2018, Kiir, Machar and a number of other opposition groups signed the peace deal, but the rival leaders are yet to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the deal was signed.

President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar held talks in Juba recently to resolve pending issues holding up the formation of a transitional government proposed for November.