IGAD Executive Secretary Gebeyehu Visits South Sudan for Peace Talks

• IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu visits South Sudan.
• The visit aims to assess progress of the R-ARCSS.
• High-level meetings were convened to discuss peace efforts.
• Gebeyehu emphasized the importance of timely R-ARCSS implementation.
• Civil society activist urges IGAD to facilitate Machar’s release.

IGAD Chief Gebeyehu’s Official Visit

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu arrived in Juba, South Sudan, on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a two-day official visit. The primary aim of this visit is to evaluate the progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, commonly referred to as R-ARCSS. Upon arrival, Gebeyehu was received by Akuei Bona Malwal, the deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation. Immediately, he began a series of high-level meetings intended to review the advancements made and discuss future steps to bolster peace efforts in South Sudan.

In conclusion, the visit of IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu to South Sudan highlights the pressing need for cooperative efforts towards the successful implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. His discussions with key South Sudanese officials, including calls for peace and the release of detained leaders, illuminate the fraught political landscape in the nation. As tensions linger on, the role of IGAD and regional organizations remains crucial in fostering peace and stability in South Sudan as it charts its way forward toward the planned elections in 2026.