JUBA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Former political detainees in South Sudan have pinned hope on concerted efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to revitalize the stalled peace process and restore stability in the strife-torn country.
"It is our strong belief and hope that the convening of the proposed revitalization forum by IGAD will greatly enhance durable peace and stability in our strife-torn country and end the immense suffering of our people," Deng Alor Kuol, leader of former political detainees, told a press briefing in Juba on Monday.
Heads of state from IGAD member countries endorsed the creation of a High Level Revitalization Forum to bolster the now-defunct 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS).
A delegation of foreign ministers from the region will visit Juba this week on pre-revitalization consultation prior to the commencement of the actual peace forum later this month.
"The group believes that the process can help the parties to address enormous challenges facing the implementation of the peace agreement," Kuol said.
"In our capacity as the representatives of the former political detainees in the transitional government of national unity we accept IGAD initiative to reduce violence and restore peace in South Sudan," said Kuol.
On his part, the leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement, Former Detainees (SPLM-FDs), Pagan Amum Okiech, told Xinhua over the phone from Nairobi that the forum will bring all stakeholders to discuss how to achieve durable solution to the political crisis in the country.
"Our hope is that all the parties will be positive in the interest of peace in South Sudan," said Okiech.
Regional and pan-African blocs have joined hands with multilateral agencies in meditating talks that resulted in the August 2015 peace accord, which aimed to end bloodshed and introduce a series of fundamental political, security, economic and transitional justice reforms.
Despite regional and international endorsement, the peace agreement stalled months after Machar returned to the country in April 2016.
The 2015 agreement was again violated in July 2016 when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Enditem
Newer articles:
- South Sudan seeks to enhance cultural exchanges with China - 10/10/2017 09:44
- Going to school? Unlikely if you're a girl in South Sudan, report says - 09/10/2017 18:51
- South Sudan opposition wants separate meeting with Igad - 09/10/2017 13:09
- Young South Sudanese commit to working with communities to prevent conflict - 09/10/2017 12:42
- Why lifting sanctions against Sudan is the right call - 09/10/2017 12:09
Older news items
- South Sudan winning against Guinea worm, says Jimmy Carter - 09/10/2017 10:39
- What it takes to educate South Sudan’s ‘forgotten’ communities - 09/10/2017 09:00
- Machar’s meeting was ordered by IGAD summit, says Sudan’s FM - 09/10/2017 01:41
- Sudan to extend ceasefire through end-December: SUNA - 08/10/2017 15:00
- Mental Health Money Can't Just Follow Bombs, Bullets And Trauma - 08/10/2017 13:58
Latest news items (all categories):
- إلى متى ينظر الجميع إلى الفيل و يطعنون ظله..؟ - 15/05/2024 21:51
- SOUTH SUDAN - Peace negotiations in Kenya: Not everyone is convinced of the initiative - 14/05/2024 20:40
- ‘Difficult choices’: The particular vulnerability of children with disabilities in South Sudan - 14/05/2024 20:35
- Uganda in talks with China's Sinohydro over power line to South Sudan - 14/05/2024 20:31
- What South Sudan Can Learn from Neighboring Gold Producers - 14/05/2024 20:27
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan Refutes Rebels Retake of Pagak Town - 16/08/2017 06:55
- KHARTOUM MONITOR EXELLS IN DISINFORMATION - 22/04/2008 19:05
- U.S. Push for South Sudan Arms Embargo Falls Short at U.N. - 23/12/2016 09:08
- Khartoum launches diplomatic offensive against South's takeover of Heglig - Sudan Tribune - 12/04/2012 09:02
- Kiir, back from China, says Heglig belongs to South Sudan - Chicago Tribune - 27/04/2012 21:13
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 35357 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21875 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20767 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17443 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14231 times