South Sudan welcomes IGAD revised proposal

August 16, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government announced on Sunday readiness to sign a revised version of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), despite public criticism and protest of the armed opposition leadership under the former vice president turned rebel leader, Riek Machar.

South Sudanese foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told Sudan Tribune during an exclusive interview on Sunday that the government through its “special meeting” attended by the state governors had resolved to permit the travel of president Salva Kiir to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to meet Machar and attend the regional summit of the heads of state and governments on the situation on South Sudan.

“The meeting has just concluded with recommendation that the president of the republic goes to Addis Ababa to attend the heads of state and government summit on the situation on South Sudan.

The meeting also resolved that in case the summit wants the two parties to sign any agreement as per the deadline set by the IGAD plus, it should be the version which the regional leaders agreed in Kampala,” said minister Marial.

Marial complained against the chief mediator, Seyoum Mesfin, saying he failed to incorporate the Kampala revised IGAD-Plus compromise proposal into the original text, saying president Kiir will push for implementation of the Kampala text.

IGAD-Plus has however maintained to keep the original Addis Ababa text of 24 July instead of 10 August of Kampala as the basis for negotiations and agreement.

The Kampala version, according to the top diplomat in the country, revised controversial issues, notable of which was the provision which gives the rebels under Riek Machar majority stake in the management and control of the resources and affairs of the conflict affected states of Upper Nile region.

The new version also agreed on the reduction of the period of separate armies to a period not less than 12 months from the date of the signing of the peace agreement, reject demilitarization of the national capital, Juba and other major towns.

Other revised areas of the regional proposal include limiting power sharing to the national institutions instead of expanding them to the states and local level.

The armed opposition faction led by Machar rejected the new Kampala version saying they will not accept it, while calling on IGAD-Plus to maintain the Addis Ababa proposal of 24 July.

The two principal leaders are expected to sign the final deal on Monday evening.

(ST)