South Sudan’s Kiir to sign peace agreement on Wednesday

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) prior to a meeting on 3 March 2015 in Addis Ababa (Photo: AFP/Zacharias Abubeker)

“The embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Addis Ababa presents its compliments to the Office of the Special Envoys for South Sudan (OSESS) and has the honor to inform that tomorrow 26th August 2015, there will be a mini-summit in Juba regarding the proposed IGAD-Plus Peace Agreement where the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, in the interest of peace, is expected to sign the proposed agreement,” reads a statement issued Tuesday.

It added, “Accordingly, the special envoys are expected to attend this historical event.”

The spokesperson for the presidency, Ateny Wek Ateny also confirmed that the signing the regionally and internationally backed peace deal would take place on Wednesday.

The announcement comes a day after a consultative meeting brought together South Sudan cabinet members, state governors, heads of commissions and other institutions.

The leadership meeting, which was chaired by the South Sudanese leader in Juba was followed by a consultative meeting with the Security Council members.

Last week, President Kiir declined to sign the agreement and requested for 15 more days to consult his constituents. The agreement was signed by the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar and the representative of the former political detainees, Pagan Amum.

Meanwhile, the East African regional bloc (IGAD) did acknowledge Wednesday’s mini-summit on the agreement to resolve the South Sudanese conflict to be held in Juba.

The IGAD Secretariat, in a statement, requested all IGAD-Plus members to send their respective delegations "to witness and attend the long awaited historic moment”.

“The Secretariat of IGAD also hereby reminds the office of the special envoy of South Sudan to avail the relevant documentations in Juba, earlier enough,” reads the statement.

(ST)