Key Leaders Absence at IGAD Summit Highlights South Sudan Security Crisis

Key leaders, including Museveni and Ruto, skipped the IGAD summit that sought to address the worsening security crisis in South Sudan. Their representatives attended the meeting, advocating for dialogue between warring parties. The summit reaffirmed the importance of the 2018 peace agreement in addressing the ongoing conflict and expressed concerns regarding the rising violence in the region.

On Wednesday, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy did not attend the virtual 43rd Extraordinary Assembly of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) relating to the South Sudan crisis. The summit, chaired by Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, aimed to address escalating security issues in South Sudan. The only attending leader was Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia.

Despite their absence, Museveni and Ruto were represented by their officials. Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Gideon Timothewos represented Prime Minister Abiy; while Ruto was represented by Dr. Monica Juma, Kenya’s National Security Advisor. Museveni’s representation included three ministers: Jacob Marksons Oboth (Minister of Defense), Henry Oryem Okello (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation), and John Mulimba (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs).

Engagement by Museveni and Ruto with the conflicting parties in South Sudan has been ongoing regarding worsening security conditions. The virtual summit called on South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to pursue dialogue. The communique emphasized that “dialogue and discussion remain the only means for resolving differences.” It reaffirmed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018 as fundamental to the peace process.

The summit also expressed alarm regarding the deteriorating security environment in South Sudan, evidenced by renewed violence and a rise in incidents post the Nasir incident, which included the arrest of senior officials from the SPLM/A-IO and government. IGAD is reinforcing its role as the guarantor of the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, following an earlier 2015 agreement that collapsed within a year due to renewed conflict. The peace process aims to solidify a government of national unity in South Sudan, a goal that has faced significant challenges since its inception.

In conclusion, the virtual IGAD summit focused on the escalating security situation in South Sudan, highlighting the need for dialogue among its leaders. Museveni, Ruto, and Abiy’s absence was noted, though their governments remain engaged in discussions regarding peace. The alarming security conditions underscore the challenges ahead, particularly in light of the fragile 2018 peace agreement, which IGAD continues to uphold as vital for fostering stability.

Original Source: chimpreports.com