South Sudan: AU leaders meet in Mauritania

Jul 02, 2018

“The ad hoc committee exchanged views on how to more effectively enhance its support to and co-operation with IGAD in the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in South Sudan."

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

The African Union high-level ad hoc committee for South Sudan met in Mauritania at the weekend to among other things fasttrack the peace process in South Sudan.

According to officials from the African Union, the committee, under the chairmanship of the President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, agreed to support ongoing efforts by the Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) geared at silencing guns in the conflict-riddled country.

"The ad hoc committee exchanged views on how to more effectively enhance its support to and co-operation with IGAD in the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in South Sudan," a statement issued by AU officials, noted.

"The committee holds the view that there is need for unity of purpose among all the actors in order to create the required momentum for successfully concluding the peace process in South Sudan."

The meeting came against the backdrop of a recent face-to-face meeting between President Salva Kiir and the former vice-president, Dr Riek Machar, in Sudan on June 27.

Kiir and Machar also signed the Khartoum declaration agreement, where they committed to a permanent ceasefire.

The ad hoc committee meeting on South Sudan was attended by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Algerian prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia, Nigerian foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama, the African Union commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Ethiopian state minister of foreign affairs, Hirut Zemene.

African Union leaders will this week meet in Mauritania for the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

 

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