Five African countries to join IGAD mediation on S. Sudan conflict

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

April 28, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has selected five countries each representing different blocs in the continent to take part in the South Sudanese peace process under a new mediation mechanism led by the East African regional bloc of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

At a press conference held on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, IGAD chief mediator on South Sudan peace talks, Seyoum Mesfin, said the five countries were selected in response to Africa’s request to participate directly in the peace process which will include other international bodies and countries.

“Africa has asked to participate not only through IGAD but also to join the IGAD and give its full support and participation,” Mesfin told reporters.

Accordingly, Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, South Africa and Rwanda will be engaged in the peace process representing north, western, central, southern and eastern African regions, respectively. The five countries will be participating both at envoys and at summit level.

Outside Africa, the IGAD plus initiative will also include China, Troika countries (USA, UK and Norway), EU and the UN.

The February to March negotiations, the third phase and 8th session were the final ones per the declaration of IGAD leaders and by the agreements of the two principals, President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.

However the negotiations which were highly expected to bring lasting peace deal collapsed on 6 March after the two warring factions failed to bridge differences on outstanding issues.

Mesfin on Tuesday however stressed that failure to the final session didn’t mean IGAD would abandon the peace process.

“Declaring the session would be the final one was meant only [that]IGAD will think of a different and innovative approach that might help to achieve lasting peace solution” he said adding “That is why the IGAD is moving towards the IGAD plus initiative.”

He made clear that despite the inclusion of other partners to the mediation, IGAD however will still be fully leading the peace process.

“Without the region’s commitment and fully leading the process we can’t hope to achieve peace and reconciliation in South Sudan,” he said.

The IGAD Plus, he added, only aimed to reinforce the IGAD peace process in a way to embrace more voices and strength and give it a robust expression towards the negotiating parties.

Currently envoys are in consultation at summit and leaders’ level, said the former Ethiopian foreign minister. No timetable is set for the resumption of the next round of peace talks but Mesfin said soon it will be announced after the ongoing consultations are finalised.

(ST)