Support South Sudan’s “reconciliation initiatives”: IGAD Heads of States to Religious, Traditional, Civil Leaders

(Photo Credit: CRN)

Faith-based leaders, their counterparts in civil societies and traditional contexts need to support initiatives towards reconciliation and peaceful co-existence in South Sudan, members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have said.

In the communiqué of the 43rd Extraordinary Assembly that was held on March 12, the Heads of State of the eight-nation trade bloc that includes governments from the Horn of Africa, the Nile Valey, and the African Great Lakes laud “grassroots peace dialogues” in the world’s youngest nation that gained independence from Sudan in July 2011.

In the statement, the Heads of State welcome call upon “religious and traditional leaders, and the civil society to support reconciliation initiatives, and advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of women, youth and other under-represented groups.”

IGAD members, who include Heads of States and Governments of Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia convened virtually on March 12 “to address the serious security situation in the Republic of South Sudan,” the communiqué indicates.

In their deliberations, the March 12 communiqué states, IGAD members “expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security conditions in South Sudan, marked by resurgent violence, violations of ceasefire commitments, and a marked increase in violent incidents.”

They also “expressed Alarm at the rising tensions in Juba and elsewhere following the Nasir incident and the arrest of senior SPLM/A-IO military and Government officials,” the communiqué of IGAD states, referring to the March 7 attack on a United Nations helicopter conducting an evacuation process in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State that resulted in the death of a crew member and two others seriously injured.

IGAD members have “strongly condemned the killing of the Commander of the SSPDF forces in Nasir, Upper Nile State, General Majur Duk and others including a UN crew during evacuation.”

They “decided” that the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism, CTSAMVM, the multinational body that monitors compliance with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), undertakes “an investigation into the Nasir clashes and the attack on the UN helicopter to ascertain the facts and ensure accountability for any violations.”

In their March 12 deliberations summarized in the communiqué, IGAD members called for the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Signed in September 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, R-ARCSS provides a framework for ending South Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his then Vice President, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup.

IGAD members “reaffirmed” R-ARCSS “as the cornerstone of the peace process in South Sudan” and underscored that in South Sudan, “dialogue and discussion remain the only way to resolving differences.”

They “strongly urged the Parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, adhere to and respect the Permanent Ceasefire, and prioritize and expedite the implementation of Transitional Security Arrangements by providing the requisite resources in a timely manner.”

IGAD members also called for “the immediate release of detained officials, unless credible evidence warrants legal proceedings conducted transparently and in accordance with due process.”

They urged the “Parties to the R-ARCSS to reactivate the functioning of the various security mechanisms impacted by the arrest of officials.”

IGAD members also “directed the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan to intensify engagement with all armed groups to secure full adherence to the ceasefire.”

To realize “inclusive governance and reconciliation” in South Sudan, IGAD members has urged “the leadership of all the Parties to the R-ARCSS to immediately de- escalate tensions, embrace dialogue, speak with one voice and demonstrate their commitment to not return the country back to war through regular scheduled Presidency meetings to advance progress in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, address emerging issues and effectively communicate to the public their agreed outcomes.”

Source: https://www.aciafrica.org/news/14705/support-south-sudans-reconciliation-initiatives-igad-heads-of-states-to-religious-traditional-civil-leaders