In a renewed effort to defuse growing political tensions in South Sudan, a high-level joint delegation from the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) met with President Salva Kiir on Monday to push for the revitalization of the peace process, amid the ongoing detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
This marks the third high-stakes diplomatic mission in a row aimed at rescuing the fragile peace deal, following earlier unsuccessful attempts by the IGAD Special Envoy and the AU’s Panel of the Wise to convene direct talks between Kiir and Machar, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Leading the latest mission were AU Commission Chairperson Mahmound Ali Youssouf and IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.
The two leaders presented a united front in their call for renewed dialogue and swift action to address stalled provisions in the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“The main purpose of this mission is to stand by the Republic of South Sudan on how best we can move together as African Union, IGAD and the Republic of South Sudan to preserve peace and stability in this country,” said AU Commission Chairperson Faki after meeting with President Kiir in Juba.
“As the granters of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, we also feel the need today to see how best we can support the government of the Republic of South Sudan to speed up the process of the implementation of this agreement that all the stakeholders of the agreement will come together again for dialogue to resume very quickly,” he added.
Faki further emphasized the urgency of resolving insecurity in parts of the country and called for a renewed focus on finalizing key provisions of the peace accord.
“And we hope also that all the issues resulted to insecurity, lack of security in some of the regions will resolve, and we need to think very thoroughly about the next steps in regard to the implementation of that peace agreement, and I am referring to the drafting and endorsement of permanent constitution and I would also like to underline the necessity of implementation of Security arrangement.”
The AU-IGAD joint visit comes at a critical time, as fears mount that the breakdown in communication between the country’s top leaders could reverse the gains made under the peace deal.
Observers say the fate of the agreement, and South Sudan’s path to a peaceful transition, hangs in the balance.
The mission is expected to conclude Tuesday. However, no word has yet emerged on whether President Kiir is willing to meet Machar under the current circumstances, but the delegation is expected to continue consultations with other peace stakeholders before departure.
