The African Union Peace and Security Council has said it fully supports the National Dialogue process in South Sudan and urged all parties to the conflict and peace process to make development and peace a priority for the people of South Sudan.
The council chairman, Bankole Adeoye Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the African Union who is leading a delegation to Juba after meeting the National Dialogue committee said the main purpose of their visit to Juba is to show full support towards peaceful initiatives in the war-torn country.
“This is a process that the African Union fully supports. The only way we can achieve peace is to dialogue and sit around the table. It is necessary that we forget our differences be they political and look for ways to alleviate the suffering of our people,” he said.
“The African Union cannot be a bystander when people are suffering. We cannot be observers, we must be active participants and that is the purpose of the field mission by the peace and Security Council,” he added.
Ambassador Adeoye emphasized that the process needs to be inclusive for it to yield the desired results.
“We believe the national dialogue process is complementary to the high level revitalisation process under IGAD. We believe that it is essential that all parties, stakeholders, women, children should be a part of this inclusive and open process,” Adeoye said.
The AU official also called on the warring parties respect the 2015 agreement as well the IGAD-led revitalisation process for peaceful resolution of the conflict.
For his part, Angelo Beda, the Co-chair of the National Dialogue Committee said their meeting was fruitful saying they discussed the process and challenges facing the initiative.
The AU visit takes place in the background of IGAD consultative meetings with stakeholders to the second High Level Revitalisation Forum scheduled for the 26th of April 2018.