South Sudan extends transitional govt by two years

South Sudan's leaders announced that the country's post-war transitional government would remain in power two years beyond an agreed deadline, in a move foreign partners warned lacked legitimacy.

Martin Elia Lomuro, the minister of cabinet affairs, said the decision was taken "to address the challenges that impede the implementation of the peace agreement", following a 2018 deal to end a five-year civil war that left nearly 400,000 people dead.

The world's newest nation was meant to conclude a transition period with elections in February 2023, but the government has so far failed to meet key provisions of the agreement, including drafting a constitution.

The so-called troika of the United States, Britain and Norway boycotted Thursday's announcement, pointing out that the government had not consulted all the parties involved in the 2018 deal before announcing the extension.

In a letter to Kiir, the troika expressed "profound concern that fully inclusive consultations must take place with civil society, faith-based groups, business, women's groups, youth representatives, eminent persons and international partners before the (peace deal) is amended".

"We extend the transition period as a pragmatic and realistic choice for 24 months of healing and consolidating."

South Sudan's lumbering peace process has run into multiple delays, with violence breaking out between Kiir and Machar's forces as recently as this year.