Ministers from across the IGAD bloc met with the various sides of the South Sudanese conflict in Addis Ababa on Sunday, with an aim of bringing the warring factions to the negotiating table to pacify the country.
During the opening of the meeting, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister said the body still believes in the 2015 peace deal.
Though it was signed three years ago, it has not been implemented fully, largely due to the persistent conflicts in the world’s youngest nation.
“I believe the agreement if allowed to take into account and accommodate the current realities on the ground can still provide a great chance for sustainable peace. It can still prevent the approaching calamity but this will certainly depend on the commitment of the parties to consider and accept all responsible proposals to implement the agreement,” Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers Workineh Gebeyehu said.
IGAD says it’s ready to hold the much-hyped revitalization forum on South Sudan.
The head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has detailed what the forum will be working towards.
“The revitalisation process will achieve the following A, a cessation of all hostilities and a renegotiated permanent ceasefire that includes all armed groups B, .An inclusive political process which brings together all parties and estranged groups.C, revise traditional security arrangement and time line with a robust verification and enforcement mechanism.” Head of JMEC Festus Mogae said.
South Sudan has been rid by war since December 2015, sparked by accusations from President Salva Kiir that his then-deputy Riek Machar was plotting a coup against his government. Machar denied the allegations but then went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed thousands and displaced millions, prompting the U to rank South Sudan as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis, coming third worldwide after Syria and Afghanistan.
