AU Chairman Macky asks Kiir, Machar to make a fresh push for peace

Senegalese President Macky Sall who is also the chairman of the African Union has encouraged South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar to work for a sustained peace in the country.

 Senegalese President Macky Sall who is also the chairman of the African Union has encouraged South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar to work for a sustained peace in the country.

 This came during his one-day visit to the South Sudanese capital, Juba on Monday. During President Macky’s visit, the foreign ministers of South Sudan and Senegal also signed two agreements for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

 Speaking to journalists in Juba on Monday, President Sall called on President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to work together to implement the 2018 peace agreement.

 “I come here, Mr. President, to encourage you and to support the peace process in South Sudan. First Vice President Dr. Machar, I came here to also make the same plea to him that you work together to consolidate peace,” he said. “It takes time to build a nation. I also came to let you know that we are available and at your disposal as African Union to help you build the peace.”

 President Sall said he was happy that the two countries signed an agreement on bilateral relations.

 “I am very happy that the two ministers of foreign affairs right now signed the agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Sudan and Senegal,” he said.

 For his part, President Salva Kiir said bilateral relations between the two countries will advance African integration.

 “The bilateral relationship established now between the government of South Sudan and Senegal resurrects ties and invites us to deepen cultural and economic exchange and political cooperation,” Kiir said. “In this way, we can advance African integration between these two countries.”

 The implementation of South Sudan’s revitalized peace agreement has been slow and has frustrated the international community. The graduation of unified forces to form a national army has not happened despite many deadlines.

 Last week, the US government withdrew support from the peace monitoring mechanisms; the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring, Evaluation and Verification Mechanism (RJMEC) and the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Mechanism and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), citing a lack of political will from South Sudanese leaders.