A call by Igad Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyu triggered the special summit to discuss South Sudan peace agreement, the organisation’s spokesperson Nuur Mohamed has said.
On January 2, President William Ruto announced that in a call with Sudan transitional leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, they agreed to hold a special IGAD Summit focusing on South Sudan before the end of January.
The summit, President Ruto said, will assess the status of implementation of the peace agreement, which is officially referred as Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, and address any emerging issues.
“Received a call from the President of Sudan Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan where we discussed relations between our two countries. In his capacity as the Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, we further deliberated about the security situation in the Eastern Africa region, and specifically in South Sudan,” Ruto said in a statement.
“We also appreciate President Salva Kiir’s special message recognising Kenya’s support in seeking solutions to emerging challenges in South Sudan, search for durable peace and in delivering humanitarian assistance to the affected communities,” Ruto added.
The development follows recent fighting in Upper Nile and Jonglei regions.
Dr Workneh had on December 26 warned that violence poses serious danger to peace and stability of South Sudan.
In a statement, the Executive Secretary said he is extremely concerned with the violence and fighting in the states, which have led to displacement of an estimated 50,000 people and death and destruction.
He also called for the silencing of the guns and the provision of an immediate platform for dialogue to resolve any grievances that may have led to the violence.
“Dr Workneh appealed to the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government to use their leverage to ensure that no entity or individual undermines the peace and stability of South Sudan.
In this regard, the Executive Secretary thanked President William Ruto of Kenya speaking with his South Sudanese counterpart to express his concerns and for offering the airlifting of food aid and medical supplies from Kenya to affected areas,” the statement by Igad Secretariat said.
On December 24, President Ruto expressed his concern over the hostilities, saying the increased insecurity, violence, displacement and humanitarian crisis are detrimental to the peace and stability of South Sudan and the East Africa region.
As a guarantor of South Sudan peace process, Ruto, on behalf of Kenya, called on the international community to focus an immediate intervention geared towards de-escalation , peaceful resolution and coexistence among parties involved.
“I have today spoken with my counterpart H.E General Salva Kiir Mayadit and strongly implored on him in concert with parties involved to deploy their best efforts to lead the country from the brink and back to a path of durable peace as envisioned in the R-ARCSS” Ruto said, in the statement.
