AU delegation meets Kiir, Machar over security

A high-level delegation led by the Head of the African Union Mission in South Sudan, Prof. Joram Biswaro, on Friday met with the government’s top leadership over security concerns in the country.

 “The delegation underlined the importance for the members of the presidency to recommit to the full implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement and urged them to fulfil their commitments to demonstrate to the nation their true desire for peace,” a statement released yesterday read in part.

The two-day meeting was attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, Prof. Nicholas Haysom, the Special Envoy of IGAD for South Sudan, Ambassador, Dr. Ismail Wais; and the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai (rtd).

The delegation held meetings with President Salva Kiir, the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and Vice Presidents, Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Dr. Wani Igga, and Gen Taban Deng Gai.

They discussed the backdrop of growing political and security tensions in the country, SPLM/A-IO’s snub of the agreement’s institutions and procedures, and the overall delayed implementation of the R-ARCSS.

According to a joint press release issued on Friday, the delegation encouraged the reaffirmation by both President Kiir and the First Vice President that they would not return the country to war.

They urged the top leaders to de-escalate the heightened political tensions, dialogue amongst themselves to address any concerns and return to full implementation of the agreement.

“In the meeting with the President, the delegation acknowledged his intervention through the news conference of Monday, March 28 2022, which helped reduce the anxieties in Juba and across the country,” they noted.

“The delegation urged them to maintain a conversation and increase communication amongst members of the presidency.”

The delegates urged the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) to resume participation in agreement institutions and procedures such as RJMEC and CTSAMVM.

The meeting also highlighted the recent uptick in intercommunal violence, which is undermining security across the country.

With only 11 months left in the transitional period, the delegation emphasised the agreement’s outstanding tasks such as force unification, constitution-making, and election preparations. It urged the transitional government to develop a roadmap outlining how to complete what needs to be implemented before the end of the transitional period.

The delegation stressed its willingness to assist the presidency if the necessity arose.