To Africa, where an eight-country trade bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD is working with South Sudanese political stakeholders to help form a transitional government over the next five months. This includes the government AND opposition. CGTN's Girum Chala has more details.

All eyes are on South Sudanese parties at the moment. IGAD says based on the much-anticipated peace deal both President Salva Kiir and Opposition leader Riek Machar are expected to form a transitional government in less than five months.

ISMAIL WEIS IGAD'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO SOUTH SUDAN "IGAD has extended the pre-transitional period for six months. We are remaining now almost five months. Now after the five months we are trying to form that government. After forming the government we are also working very hard to gave at the end of that transitional period and organised, fair and free elections in the country where the winners in fact should form the government in the Republic of South Sudan."

The special envoy Ismail Weis believes there is now a relative peaceful environment in South Sudan more than any other time to fully implement the December 2017 cessation of hostilities deal.

ISMAIL WEIS IGAD'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO SOUTH SUDAN "Since December last year in all over the country except in Yae river state gins are now silent. We have that cessation of hostilities deal signed in December 2017. Since then almost all the parties except one which is called NAS led by General Thomas Serilo, are respecting the cessation of hostilities agreement. That means now even since mid last year 2018 there is a relative peace in the country."

GIRUM CHALA ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA "Still a significant amount of time is needed for South Sudan to fully come out of the woods. Even there is a huge funding difficulty for the peace deal to be implemented. The good news here is the renewed pledge of IGAD member states especially Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya to support the cantonement activities across South Sudan. Girum chala, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."