By John Ikani
South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, has announced his intention to host Sudanese political leaders in Juba, the capital city, with the aim of putting an end to a prolonged and devastating six-month conflict.
According to a statement from Mr. Kiir’s press unit, this crucial meeting is scheduled to take place in the upcoming week, although it doesn’t specify which representatives will be in attendance.
President Kiir has earnestly called upon both the military and political leaders in Sudan to seek resolution through peaceful dialogue, emphasizing the importance of ending the ongoing conflict.
This announcement followed a briefing provided to Mr. Kiir by Sudan’s Sovereign Council’s deputy chairman, Malik Agar Eyre, regarding the most recent developments in Sudan.
Tut Gatluak Manime, South Sudan’s national security adviser has indicated that the leaders of Sudan will thoroughly review the Juba Peace Agreement, originally inked in 2020 between the transitional government and rebel factions. Their goal is to find a viable solution to the current crisis.
Since April, the Sudanese army has been locked in fierce combat with its former allies, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in a devastating toll of casualties. An estimate by the United Nations reports thousands killed and over five million people displaced, marking six months of relentless conflict on Sunday.
Many analysts believe that President Kiir’s role as a mediator could prove instrumental in bridging the divide between Sudanese rivals.
Back in June, the East African regional bloc Igad had appointed Kenyan President William Ruto to lead a quartet mediation team tasked with resolving Sudan’s conflict.
However, the initiative was met with resistance from the Sudanese army, which accused Mr. Ruto of maintaining strategic relations with the RSF – an allegation firmly denied by Kenya.
