S. Sudan Kiir in South Africa for talks on peace implementation

October 23, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir on Friday left the national capital, Juba, for South Africa, allegedly for talks about progress made in the implementation of the peace agreement and the reunification process of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, told reporters on Friday that the president was travelling to South Africa where he would brief the host president, Jacob Zuma, of the progress made in the implementation of the peace deal which he signed in August with his former deputy, Riek Machar, to end the 21 months long violent conflict in the world’s youngest nation.

“The president will hold frank discussions to inform president Jacob Zuma of South Africa about the intention of the government to implement the agreement as it was signed on the 26th of August, 2015,” said Ateny.

The duration of the visit, according to Ateny, will be two days during which Kiir would make clear the position and commitment of his administration to the peace deal and the progress made and challenges facing implementation of the accord.

The visit came weeks after president Kiir unilaterally created 28 new states in what regional and international bodies said was a clear violation of the peace agreement. He also dissolved the ruling SPLM national secretariat, removing the instated secretary general, Pagan Amum, in a move which is also seen to be undermining the reunification of the party of which South Africa plays a role of mediator.

Foreign affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said in a separate interview with reporters that the visit was very important because it was taking place as the peace implementation had started to bear impact.

“It is an important visit because you know very well that South African government, particularly president Jacob Zuma and the leadership of ANC (African National Congress), has been playing a strong and positive role in helping our country and the leadership to find lasting solution to this conflict,” said minister Marial.

He said South African president had previously invited the warring parties to the peace process to Johannesburg for a round table discussion on the reunification of the ruling SPLM.

It however remains unclear whether Johannesburg or Juba initiated this latest visit to discuss consolidation of peace in South Sudan.

(ST)