South Africa’s Deputy President David Mabuza is confident of a breakthrough in the South Sudan peace talks despite the latest negotiations ending in a stalemate.
Mabuza made a three-day visit to Juba, during which he facilitated a Consultative Meeting of the Parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. The Consultative Meeting was on the contentious issue of the number of states and their boundaries.
“We entered this meeting with a number of ideals, foremost being ensuring that peace and development reigns in South Sudan. It was therefore encouraging for me to sit around the table with parties with strong and divergent views, willing to shift from their original positions where necessary, for the sake of peace in their country,” Mabuza said after the meeting.
The South Sudan parties failed to reach an agreement on the number of states and their boundaries, but Mabuza expects the issue to be sorted soon.
Following Mabuza’s visit to Juba, the South African presidency announced that it will host the South Sudan parties for a retreat as part of the confidence building exercise.
Another consultative meeting has been scheduled in two weeks, with the parties tasked with making further consultations on the unresolved issues.
South Sudan plunged into chaos in December 2013 sparked by a feud between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.
President Kiir accused Machar, his then deputy, of plotting a coup against his rule. Machar denied the allegations but then went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, making South Sudan Africa’s biggest refugee crisis.
Under the auspices of regional bloc IGAD, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya played key roles in mediation of the revitalized peace agreement. South Africa was also drafted into the peace process, with Mabuza appointed as the country’s special envoy in the mission.
“Of great importance, is the vote of confidence vested in South Africa by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, to play a meaningful role in assisting the peace process. As South Africa, we are grateful for this vote of confidence. South Sudan people deserve peace and space to realise their development potential. Finding lasting peace and silencing the guns in line with the priorities of the African Union, remains our priority”, said Deputy President Mabuza.
