The Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have witnessed the signing of the final revitalized agreement of resolution of the conflict in South Sudan.
This signing was witnessed by Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, Ismail Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan, Omar Bashir of Sudan and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ of the Federal Government of Somalia and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amb Monica Juma who represented the President of Kenya
In his remarks the Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly Dr. Abiy congratulated the parties and lauded their commitment to peace, stability and development of South Sudan. He emphasized the need for the South Sudan parties to implement the signed agreement in good faith in order to achieve long lasting peace in South Sudan and set a sound base for harnessing the recent regional magnificent efforts towards regional peace and stability.
He commended IGAD and all the parties in the continued effort and commitment to bringing peace to not only South Sudan but the rest of the IGAD region which will result into the consolidation of the gains made in pursuing the IGAD regional economic integration agenda.
He said the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is to give peace a chance; he concluded that through the implementation of the agreement Africa will show case its ability to overcome conflicts through reconciliation and shared interest for economic integration.
Amb Mahboub Maalim requested the Republic of South Sudan to embrace regional peace and integration and build on the momentum created by the wave of the recent peace initiatives in the IGAD region.
The IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan Dr. Ismail Wais in his report to the summit appreciated the support extended by the IGAD Member states and noted the particular inputs of Presidents Omar el Bashir, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, President Museveni. He reported that the negotiations were complete, with the parties ready to sign the peace agreement.