South Sudan president Salva Kiir met and held a high profile talk Thursday with the visiting secretary General of the United Nations, resulting in outlining more than a general six -point to rescuing the war stricken country.
President Kiir, according to his foreign affairs and international cooperation Minister, has agreed with Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of United Nations to immediately conclude a step by step implementation of the compromise peace agreement which he and the first vice president designate, Riek Machar, had signed in August 2015, to end more than 21 months conflict.
“The visit of the secretary general of the United Nations is very important to the government and the citizens of this country. He came to push forward implementation of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict. His meeting with the president was fruitful. It was cordial and he shared views and listened to briefing from the president progress made in implementing peace and what the government was doing to end the conflict and how to resolve the challenges in the implementation of peace, ” said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who himself took part in a closed door meeting at the presidential palace on Thursday.
The head of state, according to Benjamin, had agreed in principle to unveil more than six points consisting of a commitment to observing permanent cease-fire, demilitarizing capital Juba, redeployment of the presidential guard force out of Juba town, formation of a unity government, constitutional reforms and embarking on national healing as well as reconciliation.
Other issues with the president and the head of the United Nations had discussed included assurance of commitment of the permitting access to humanitarian organizations to deliver relief assistances to affected locations where humanitarian assistances are required in the country specifically in the conflict affected states and areas in Upper Nile, Western Equatoria and parts of Bahr el Ghazal regions.
Recent armed clashes in Wau and Malakal, according to Benjamin, was discussed and the president assured the secretary general of the united nations commitment of the government to investigate the motives and the identity of those involved in the clashes and take appropriate measures.
Two investigating committees, he added, have already been formed. Committee for Wau, he explained, has been formed with the presidential advisor on security affairs, Tut Gatluak as its head and minister of justice, Paulino WanaWilla Unango, as the committee tasked to investigate the cause of Malakal.
The secretary general Ban Ki-Moon did not make any statement to the media after concluding a meeting with the president but minister Benjamin said he had promised president Kiir he would speak to the leader of armed opposition, Riek Machar, to consider coming Juba for formation of the transitional government of national unity in order for the struggling economy to pick up and salvage deteriorating living conditions. “The secretary general had promised the president that he would speak to Dr.Riek to come Juba as soon as possible so that the transitional government of national unity is formed”,said Benjamin.
The closed door meeting was attended by the government chief negotiator for peace talks with armed opposition leadership, Nhial Deng Nhial, minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster Management, Awut Deng Acuil, information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, Cabinet Affairs Minister, Martin Elia Lomuro, foreign affairs and international cooperation Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister in the office of the president, Awan Guol Riak and several other officials.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after his reception at Juba international airport by foreign affairs minister, held talks with the president and some members of his cabinet and also met and held discussions with the protection of civilians’ site representatives to seek their views first hand.
He met with the non-governmental organization in charge of managing the site of the internally displaced persons.Members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of UN Funds, Agencies and Programs, and address UN staff and peacekeepers, also met and held discussions with secretary general of the United Nations.
