IGAD will convene the 43rd Extraordinary Summit on March 12, 2025, to address the situation in South Sudan amidst escalating violence. The peace deal between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar is at risk following recent clashes and arrests, despite pledges for calm and dialogue.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is organizing the 43rd Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to discuss the critical situation in South Sudan. This virtual summit is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2025. As the guarantor of the Revitalised Agreement (R-ARCSS), IGAD aims to facilitate dialogue, reduce tensions, and strive for a peaceful future in South Sudan.
Recent clashes have endangered the fragile peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. President Kiir has urged calm, assuring citizens that the nation will not revert to war. The situation escalated when a UN helicopter evacuating national army personnel was fired upon, resulting in several fatalities, including a crew member.
Tensions intensified earlier in the week with the arrest of the deputy chief of the army and two ministers associated with Machar by security forces. An opposition spokesman condemned these arrests as a serious breach of the peace agreement. This followed clashes in Upper Nile state involving government forces and the White Army militia, which previously fought alongside Machar during the civil war.
Since its independence in 2011 from Sudan, South Sudan has faced instability, with a civil war erupting two years later due to a fallout between Kiir and Machar, resulting in the deaths of over 400,000 individuals. Although a power-sharing agreement was reached in 2018 to halt the conflict, implementation of crucial aspects, such as a new constitution and the reunification of armed factions, remains incomplete. Additionally, sporadic violence persists in various regions of the country.
The IGAD summit planned for March 12, 2025, signifies continued international efforts to stabilize South Sudan amidst ongoing violence and political tensions. President Kiir’s commitment to peace and calls for calm are critical as clashes threaten the fragile status quo. The situation calls for attention to the unfulfilled elements of the 2018 peace agreement to avoid further deterioration of the nation’s stability.
Original Source: www.kbc.co.ke
