Juba to host meeting of Sudan’s armed groups to discuss ways to stop war
October 17, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan plans to hold a meeting early next week with leaders of the armed groups that signed the Juba Peace Agreement to discuss ways to stop the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The call for the meeting was agreed on Monday in a meeting between President Salva Kiir and Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council in Sudan and leader of the SPLM-Revolutionary Front.
North Darfur Governor and Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council (SLM-TC) leader Nimr Abdel Rahman told Sudan Tribune that South Sudan has invited the peace signatory groups to meet in Juba on October 21 to reflect and exchange opinions on how to stop the war.
Abdel Rahman said that the invitation was extended to the head of the SLM-TC, Al-Hadi Idris, head of the SLM, Minni Arko Minawi, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council and head of the SPLM-RF, Malik Agar, Justice and Equality Movement leader, Gibril Ibrahim, and the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces leader Tahir Hajer.
He stated that the meeting aims to consult with the peace groups about stopping the war and to work with some regional and international initiatives, especially IGAD, to support peace efforts, including the Jeddah process.
It is worth mentioning that Minnawi had called last August to involve the Juba peace signatories in the Jeddah talks.
Kiir-Agar meeting
On Monday, October 16, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and guarantor of the Juba peace agreement reiterated his readiness to host a meeting of the signatory leaders in Juba next week.
After the meeting, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs Tut Gatluak Manime said that the leaders of the armed groups will review the Juba Peace Agreement and forge a shared understanding of how to resolve the current crisis.
The Sudanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Jamal Malik, who took part in the meeting, thanked President Kiir for his continuous efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.
The peace signatories have chosen to take a neutral position since the outbreak of war between the two parties.
The Sudanese government and several armed groups mainly from Darfur and Blue Nile regions, signed the Juba Peace Agreement on October 3, 2020. However, the agreement has not been implemented except for the power-sharing chapter.