The IGAD summit discussed the escalating crisis in South Sudan, with key leaders absent but represented by officials. Dialogue was emphasized as essential for resolving conflicts, with discussions reaffirming the vital role of the 2018 peace agreement amidst deteriorating security conditions.
On Wednesday, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy did not participate in the virtual 43rd Extraordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government, which focused on the ongoing crisis in South Sudan. The summit, chaired by Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, addressed the worsening security situation in South Sudan. Only Somalia’s President, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, attended the meeting directly.
Despite their absence, Museveni, Ruto, and Abiy were represented by various officials. For Ethiopia, Dr. Gideon Timothewos was present as Foreign Affairs Minister, while Kenya’s National Security Advisor Dr. Monica Juma represented President Ruto. Museveni was represented by three ministers: Jacob Marksons Oboth (Minister of Defence), Henry Oryem Okello (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs), and John Mulimba (another Minister of State for Foreign Affairs).
The summit emphasized the need for dialogue between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to resolve conflicts. The communique reiterated that conversation remains essential in addressing differences and reaffirmed the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) as the peace process’s foundation.
Concerns regarding destabilizing security conditions in South Sudan were highlighted, attributed to increasing violence, breaches of ceasefire, and a surge in violent incidents.
The communique noted, “Alarm at the rising tensions in Juba…following the Nasir incident and the arrest of senior military officials” is warranted. IGAD has acted as the guarantor of the delicate peace agreement of 2018, which aimed to establish a government of national unity following a violent conflict that initially began in 2013. A previous peace agreement established by IGAD in 2015 also collapsed shortly after its implementation due to renewed fighting.
The recent IGAD summit on South Sudan revealed significant attendance gaps but emphasized the importance of dialogue and reaffirmed the existing peace agreements. While Museveni and Ruto did not personally attend, their delegated officials highlighted ongoing concerns regarding security in South Sudan. The summit’s focus on dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution is crucial amidst the rising tensions and violence affecting the region.
Original Source: chimpreports.com
