South Sudan’s Machar invited to IGAD heads of state summit
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
January 9, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The leader of South Sudan’s SPLM-In-Opposition faction, Riek Machar, is invited to attend the upcoming summit of heads of state and government of the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
According to the official, the invitation letter which is due to be extended to the rebel leader as well as to president Salva Kiir calls on both principals to present a report on the outcome of consultations they held with constituencies during the recess.
The IGAD leaders will meet on 18 January to discuss ways to end the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Discussions are expected to focus on the power sharing between the president and the rebel-appointed prime minister during the transitional period.
It is to be recalled that the two warring parties recently held consultations, the government held in Juba and rebels in Pagak, a town near Ethiopian border. The two warring parties stick to their positions and refuse to make concessions.
MACHAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
Rebel sources said Riek Machar is currently in South Africa, his third visit since the conflict erupted in December 2013.
Previously, including during his visit in September to South Africa, there were rumours alleging that the rebel leader was ill and admitted to a hospital in Pretoria, with now renewed speculations about his health concerns.
However, his spokesman clarified that the top opposition leader was going for a normal medical check-up on his eye, adding his boss was well and good.
“He left Addis Ababa on Wednesday. He is currently in Pretoria for a normal routine check-up on his eye,” Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, clarified to Sudan Tribune on Friday.
He further explained that during a similar visit to Pretoria in September the rebel leader was given an appointment of 3rdJanuary 2015 for further check-up, which he missed due to being busy holding the recent consultative conference in the rebel-held town of Pagak.
He downplayed severity of the sickness, saying the eye infection was already diagnosed and was “responding positively to the treatment.”
Dak said Machar will also use the opportunity to meet with senior officials of the South African government and brief them on the progress made and deadlock in the IGAD-mediated peace talks before returning to Addis Ababa to participate in the IGAD summit.
The IGAD leaders’ summit is slated to take place on 18 January in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
IGAD leaders are expected to put more pressure and encourage the two leaders (Kiir and Machar) to strike a sustainable peace deal.
Mediators say they are optimistic that the meeting will witness a break through to end the over one-year-old conflict that has killed tens of thousands.
(ST)