S. Sudan’s Kiir briefs diplomats on peace deal implementation
May 13, 2021 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Thursday briefed special envoys from the United States, Britain and Norway on the implementation of the September 2018 revitalized peace deal.
The special envoys were accompanied to the meeting by the ambassadors of Germany, Norway, France, UK, US, Canada and the European Union (EU).
The presidency, in a statement Sudan Tribune obtained, said the meeting mainly focused on the tenth anniversary of South Sudan.
Speaking to reporters in Juba on Thursday, the Presidential Affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin described the meeting as “fruitful”.
“H.E the President assured them [envoys] that he would continue to have dialogues on the issues that promote the well-being of the people of South Sudan,” he said.
Meanwhile the special envoys commended the South Sudanese leader for the efforts made in the implementation of the peace deal, urging the parties to put more efforts in the process.
The meeting comes a week after diplomats from the Troika countries urged South Sudan government to swiftly start graduation and deployment of the unified force, in accordance to the deployment plan provided by the regional bloc (IGAD) on January 21, 2021.
They further called for the urgent implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements which include; agreement on Necessary Unified Force, improvement of conditions in training centers, and the graduation and deployment of the unified force as per provisions of the peace agreement.
Also advocated for was that South Sudanese leaders should sign “without delay” the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, start its effective establishment and set up the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing.
South Sudan formed a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in February 2020, but the country’s rival factions are yet to implement a peace deal that ended a five-year civil war.
(ST)