IGAD’s Consultative Meeting on the Peace Process in South Sudan Begins

By:Jama Farah ,HornDiplomat Contributor

Horndiplomat-IGAD’s Consultative Meeting on the Peace Process in South Sudan Begins.

A consultative meeting among ministers of IGAD member states and leaders of South Sudan Peace Agreement signatory parties begins today (November 09) in Addis Ababa.

In her opening speech at the session, Ethiopia Foreign State Minister,  Hirut Zemene said the purpose of the meeting was to consult on the deadline to form a transitional unity government in South Sudan on November 12, 2019.

According to Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, State Minister Mrs. Hirut Zemene commended the recent Entebbe agreement between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar to postpone formation of a transitional unity government for 100 days beyond a November 12 deadline. She also reiterated that it would be essential to make the agreement acceptable among all signatory parties and Peace Guarantors. It is recalled that the Entebbe, Uganda meeting was moderated by President Yoweri Museveni and the leader of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC), Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan on Thursday (November 7).

In her speech, Mrs. Hirut reiterated that it was encouraging to see the ceasefire agreement in South Sudan have been maintained; camping soldiers of various armed groups have began and the African Union, Ethiopia, South Sudan, China and Japan have kept their promises to provide materials to set up the military camps. On the other hand, Mrs. Hirut emphasized that the Signatory Parties should exert their energy in resolving some issues that have to be addressed properly. She said conditions necessary for the establishment of a transitional government have not been met yet and transitional security arrangements and disputes regarding the number and boundaries of states have to be addressed.
The Consultative meeting will end tomorrow at the IGAD Ministerial meeting.