Exclusive: The former rebel leader of Southern Sudan believes that the union government will not be ready until May 12

(This April 12 story is intended to replace the Archbishop of Canterbury with a peace group that organizes retreat in the penultimate paragraph.)

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) – The two parts of war-torn southern Sudan will not be able to meet the deadline of May 12 to form a unity government, the essential terms of a peace agreement "Having not been fulfilled," Reuters leader Riek Machar told Reuters on Friday.

Machar – who is expected to return to his position as vice president under the deal – said the government and the rebels needed another six months before forming a union government.

He spoke exclusively with Reuters in Rome after attending a two-day retreat organized by the pope with South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

Although few diplomats expect Kiir and Machar to meet the May 12 deadline set in the September peace agreement, this delay will cause further discomfort among the population of 12 million South Sudanese.

More than a third were uprooted from their homes and nearly 400,000 died in the civil war, which plunged parts of the country into famine and which is characterized by extreme badual violence and widespread ethnic cleansing that the UN warned in 2017 against a possible genocide.

When asked if he thought the National Unity Government could be ready for May 12, he replied, "Unfortunately, I have to say no."

A six-month extension is needed to unify and deploy the defense forces, demilitarize the capital Juba and other cities, and agree on the transfer of powers and the release of political prisoners, he declares.

Machar said that he had discussed extending with Kiir during a retreat at the Vatican that ended on Thursday with a pope's call to leaders to respect the armistice and to to resolve their differences.

Security is still missing

"We have refugees who will not come back if they do not feel safe. We have IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the capital and in other large cities that will not return to their homes five and a half years ago. because of security problems, "he said.

"We must, therefore, establish sufficient security for both forces so that our people can have confidence in the validity of this agreement. It is therefore unlikely that we will form the government before May 12, "he said.

Machar said Kiir "is concerned that the international community is targeting him for failing to implement the agreement." He added, "But he must carry his cross about it."

Diplomats and experts agreed that it would be difficult to meet the deadline.

"The delay is inevitable because there is no real alternative. However, there is little expectation of real progress in the absence of external pressure or unforeseen change, "Klem Ryan, former coordinator of the United Nations Security Council Group of Experts, told Reuters South Sudan.

"I do not think cynical, it's convenient. If a delay allows Machar to feel safer and end the war, it will be worth it, "said Peter Martell, author of a story from Southern Sudan.

Mr Machar also said that he was confident that the new military leadership in Khartoum would continue to be "a powerful guarantor" of the fragile peace agreement with South Sudan.

Sudan, which is predominantly Muslim, and the predominantly Christian south fought for decades before South Sudan became independent in 2011. South Sudan plunged into civil war two years later after that Kiir, a Dinka, had dismissed Machar from the Nuer ethnic group. Presidency.

The Vatican, together with the South Sudan Council of Churches and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, leader of the World Anglican Communion, gathered leaders to pray and preach inside the Pope's residence in order to to remedy divisions.

"It was a unique occasion and Pope Francis concluded with a challenge. The pope has challenged us. We have to deliver, "said Machar.