The IGAD Heads of State will meet to discuss the civil war in South Sudan, with a focus on the conflict between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar. President Israel Omar Guelleh will convene this virtual summit on March 12, 2025. Past peace agreements and recent violence underscore the urgency of addressing the crisis.
The Heads of State from the eight member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will convene on Wednesday to address the escalating civil war in South Sudan. This 43rd extraordinary summit is convened by the current chairperson, Djibouti President Israel Omar Guelleh, focusing specifically on the critical situation between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar, leader of the armed opposition.
The IGAD secretariat has indicated that this virtual summit will occur on March 12, 2025, with notable attendees including Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, William Ruto of Kenya, Abdel Fattah al-Bruhan of Sudan, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud of Somalia, Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
As the guarantor of South Sudan’s fragile 2018 peace agreement, IGAD’s commitment remains focused on de-escalating tensions and fostering dialogue for a peaceful resolution. The organization reminds all parties that it is dedicated to promoting security and stability for the South Sudanese populace.
IGAD previously facilitated a peace agreement in 2015, following nearly two years of intense civil conflict. However, that agreement subsequently collapsed after another outbreak of violence in 2016. Despite the signing of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in 2018, recent developments in Juba and Upper Nile state threaten to ignite further conflict.
The United States government has reported ongoing armed conflict, indicating that fighting persists between varying political and ethnic groups, with significant access to weapons among the populace. The situation is further complicated by frequent cattle raids, which often escalate into violence. Additionally, South Sudan’s Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, alongside Minister of Petroleum Puot Kang, has been arrested by the military amid these tensions.
The IGAD Heads of State summit represents a critical intervention in the escalating crisis in South Sudan, as leaders aim to address the potential for a full-blown war. Despite previous peace agreements, recent developments indicate a deterioration in the situation. External observations, particularly from the United States, highlight ongoing violence and instability, necessitating urgent dialogue and cooperative efforts to restore peace and security in the region.
Original Source: chimpreports.com
