South Sudanese leaders, Dagalo discuss peace implementation
August 12, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar on Thursday briefed the deputy head of Sudan Sovereignty Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on the progress made in the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement.
The meeting of the leaders took place in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dagalo welcomed the recent roadmap that extended South Sudan’s transitional period for 24 months.
He commended the leaders for unanimously agreeing to extend the coalition government’s period, urging the parties to maximize the extended period to implement the outstanding tasks in the revitalised peace accord.
Dagalo said Sudan would support training of the organised security forces, including members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) national security services and police to enhance their skills and expertise in the areas of security and defence, rule of law and maintenance of order.
“I came here as you know not as a regular guest but as one of you. The people of South Sudan and Sudan as you know are historically one people. Not by history, geography, culture, tradition, politics but also by the intermarriage that we have had ourselves. Our blood is one,” he said.
The deputy chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council said peace is everyone’s responsibility and urged South Sudanese leaders and partners to ensure the roadmap endorsed by the parties is fully implemented.
“This the only way to end disputes and move the country forward”, he said.
Sudan is one of the guarantors of South Sudan’s peace deal signed in 2018.
The historical bond and relations between Sudan and South Sudan as well as Juba and Kampala persuaded the region to allow Uganda and Sudan to lead mediation efforts to end the conflict in South Sudan among armed and non-armed groups contesting the legitimacy and power of the government of President Kiir when civil war first erupted in December 2013.
(ST)