Nairobi, March 23 -- South Sudan is facing the prospect of a second extension of the transition period, owing to the continual delays in implementing crucial aspects of the 2018 peace agreement.

But, even the issue of extending that term itself, as well as whether to hold elections at all, is divisive. First Vice-President Riek Machar is pushing for extension, but that has also earned him increasing isolation from senior figures in the unity government, The EastAfrican understands.

Dr Machar sparked the extension debate following his letter of March 18 to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), which suggested, among other things, revision of the Roadmap and dialogue among the signatory parties.

The R-JME...