S. Sudan FM to address world media next week

February 5, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s foreign affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin will on 12 February address the international media on country’s latest developments, outlining crucial steps to restore peace and attract investments.

The event, scheduled for London, will mainly focus on the challenges facing the country six weeks after thousands were killed and nearly a million displaced in its violent conflict.

Marial will also inform the world on his government’s commitment to reconciliation and healing process as bedrock of stability, highlighting the security and legal reforms currently in place to restore stability after the violence.

South Sudan experienced the worst-ever violence in its post-secession era when a dispute among the presidential guards in mid-December sparked off fierce clashes in the capital, Juba and later spread to three of the country’s 10 states.

President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of a coup attempt in Juba, an allegation the latter denies, saying the incident was a ploy to silence opposition in the ruling party (SPLM).

A session of hostilities agreement, mediated by regional leaders, was recently reached between South Sudan government and rebels loyal to Machar in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Both warring parties now accuse each other of breaching the deal, inked after weeks of negotiations.

The foreign minister is, however, expected to speak on status of the ceasefire deal and whether it would bring an end to the fighting that placed South Sudan on the brink of another civil war.

(ST).