Information Minister Michael Makuei has expressed doubt that the government will sign the proposed peace agreement after consultations within the next 15 days.

The SPLM in Opposition and the Former political detainees signed the agreement on Monday, but the government said it could not do so before consultations.

Mr. Makuei says the people will determine whether the government will sign the document or not.

He spoke at Juba International Airport this afternoon upon arrival from Addis Ababa with the President.

“The government does not act on its own. It acts in accordance with the will of the people. If the people of South Sudan say: ‘this is a good agreement, go and sign it’, then we will sign it,” Mr Makuei told reporters.

“If they say ‘no’, then we will say no. And as we have already stated, we have already said no and we have come back to consult you for the second time. If you say ‘go’ and sign it, we will do so. But I doubt if people will say so.”

The contentious issues in the compromise peace agreement include power sharing, system of governance, demilitarization of Juba and reintegration of forces during the transitional period.

The international community is putting pressure on both parties to sign a lasting peace.

In a statement, the US government said it is regrettable that the South Sudanese government did not sign the agreement.

State Department spokesperson John Kirby said the US would work with regional and international partners on the next steps to increase pressure.