IGAD Leaders Prefers Urgent Dialogue To The Political Crisis While calling for immediate end of hostilities’, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders have also called for urgent dialogue for a peaceful solution to the political crisis in South Sudan. 28 December 2013
By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT, 28 December 2013 [Gurtong] – With efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement on the situation in regarding to the ongoing political crisis in the Country, the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held its 23rd Extraordinary Summit in Nairobi, Kenya on 27th of December 2013, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Chairperson of the IGAD Summit. The Assembly was attended by H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; H. E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H. E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; H.E. Bakri Hassan Saleh, First Vice President of the Republic of the Sudan; and H.E Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan. Also attending the Assembly were Ambassador (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim, the Executive Secretary of IGAD and Ambassador Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Prior to this on Thursday 26, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn visited the 11 detained senior political leaders accused of having a hand in what the government said was a failed coup attempt, two weeks ago. The regional leaders have noted with great concern that there is a strong desire to end the violence and leaders have seen this is a political problem which can be solved if everyone is brought on board. Violence broke out on 15 December between rival factions within the national army - the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). In a statement, the IGAD’s Assembly concluded by welcoming the commitment by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan on immediately beginning unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders; It further welcomed the South Sudan’s commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities and called upon Dr. Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments. The IGAD leaders have agreed to undertake urgent measures in pursuit of an all inclusive dialogue including reviewing the status of the detainees in recognition of their role in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Sudan, and in creating a conducive environment for all stakeholders to participate and determines that face-to-face talks by all stakeholders in the conflict should occur by the 31st of December 2013. The regional body also sought to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers including those from neighbouring countries while it strongly condemns criminal acts of murder, sexual violence, looting and other criminal acts against civilians and unarmed combatants by any actor and demand that all involved by be held responsible by their de-facto and or de jure leaders. The United Nations says more than 500 people were killed in the violence and over 40,000 displaced. The world body said is urgently requires $166m to address the needs of those affected by the conflict. South Sudan government, on Friday 27, said its forces had retaken Upper Nile state from anti-government elements loyal to former vice-president, Riek Machar. Posted in: Home, Governance -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14ooOBoxbxo-4pdDkrKYLa0gwGTEcb3CKs_N2Fq7x5XB0MQ%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
