Former President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday said that South Sudanese leaders will have to make sacrifices – compromises, in other words – in order for the country to attain peace.
The former leader first praised the East African IGAD mediation while also emphasizing that South Sudanese politicians are “called upon to sacrifice.”
“We shall find a solution because there is no way of avoiding it, even if personal reasons between those who are dealing with that matter is preventing them from seeing what little they are called upon to sacrifice,” said Kibaki, as quoted by Capital FM in Nairobi.
He was likely referring to the call by IGAD for political dialogue and reconciliation among the warring parties. It was not apparent from his remarks whether he also had in mind an interim government proposal, which according to earlier unconfirmed reports excluded key politicians from positions of power.
“Like all great decisions, there is always a certain measure of sacrifice (which) each individual who is involved, is called upon to make here and there,” he added.
Kibaki, who formerly chaired the Inter-Government on Authority Development (IGAD), urged it to continue backing the peace process in South Sudan. The regional organization was established in 1986 to help address droughts and other developmental and environmental issues.
“IGAD and other regional bodies have a more significant role to play not only in securing permanent peace, but also in promoting trade, real regional socio-economic integration and interconnectivity between member states,” he said.
The former president was speaking at a function to inaugurate his new office at the Nyari Estate. At the event he was presented with a commendation from IGAD for his contribution toward the development and stability of the Horn of Africa region.