Japan injects sh3.6b into South Sudan peace deal

President Salva Kiir and former Vice President and opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar. Photo/File

Hardly four months to the mapped out deadline for the implementation of the proposed transitional government in South Sudan, the government of Japan, has injected $1m (about sh3.6b) into the process, which is expected to permanently ink peace into the conflict-riddled country.

According to Ambassador Ismail Wais, the Special Envoy of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for South Sudan, the money will be channeled to the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) fund to support the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

"The release of these funds is very timely and will facilitate the NPTC to undertake its roles, responsibilities and activities as specified in the agreement," he said, noting that Japan is the first country to offer financial support to the implementation of the South Sudanese peace agreement.

A statement issued by the IGAD secretariat noted that Japan has also signed a memorandum of cooperation with South Sudan and IGAD to promote the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

In August last year, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President and opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar, signed the Khartoum peace accord in Sudan, pledging to silence guns and end the conflict that has tormented South Sudan since December 2013.

Commenting on the peace process, Wais noted that there is need for "collective effort to find a solution to the challenges facing the implementation process and urged the international community to lend the necessary support."

 The Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, Seiji Okada said: "Japan will engage in the nation building of South Sudan and is currently involved in supporting capacity building, humanitarian aid and infrastructural development. Japan appreciates IGAD's efforts in leading peace process in South Sudan and will continue to work closely with IGAD."