IGAD is alarmed by escalating tensions in South Sudan, particularly following the arrests of key officials allied to First Vice President Riek Machar. The organization calls for restraint and dialogue to uphold the 2018 peace deal. A high-level delegation will assess the situation and engage with the government to promote peace efforts.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has expressed significant concern regarding rising tensions and armed conflicts in Nasir County, South Sudan. These developments have emerged following the arrests of Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, among others affiliated with First Vice President Riek Machar. The situation poses a threat to the fragile peace established by the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
In light of this escalating instability, IGAD has urged all involved parties to refrain from violence and reaffirm their commitment to the peace process. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, emphasized the need for dialogue and reconciliation as vital for sustainable peace, stating that a high-level delegation will be dispatched to evaluate the situation in Nasir County.
The tensions heightened notably due to the recent arrests, which followed an armed attack by a group linked to Machar on an army base in Upper Nile State. The IGAD has reiterated its commitment to engage with the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to facilitate measures that restore calm and progress in the peace initiative. Machar has articulated concerns that the dismissal of his allies could jeopardize the peace agreement, which ended a brutal civil war claiming approximately 400,000 lives.
In summary, the escalating tensions in South Sudan have drawn the attention of IGAD, which has called for restraint and dialogue among the disputing parties. The organization’s proactive approach, including sending a high-level delegation, underscores the urgency of restoring peace and stability in the region, emphasizing the importance of the 2018 peace agreement as a framework for ongoing discussions and reconciliation.
Original Source: ghettoradio.co.ke
