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JUBA - 9 Aug 2021

IGAD convenes emergency meeting to discuss South Sudan

The regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has convened an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of the current political situation on the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

Sudanese Foreign Affairs minister and chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi in a communique from the IGAD secretariat, called the meeting to take place via ZOOM on Monday 9th August 2021.

“The agenda for this Emergency Council meeting will be to discuss the current political situation in South Sudan that requires the urgent attention of the Council,” the communique read. “The IGAD Secretariat, therefore, requests your esteemed ministry to confirm the participation of the honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs as head of the delegation and in accordance to 8(1) of the Rules of Procedure governing IGAD meetings, a maximum of such other accredited representatives, alternate representatives ad advisors.”

The IGAD Member States include Djibouti,  Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.

In the last week, South Sudan has experienced political developments including conflicts within the SPLM/A-IO led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar who was deposed by his army generals and replaced by his former chief of staff Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual. Machar quickly responded by saying he was in full control of the party and its military wing. However, over the weekend, troops loyal to Machar and Gatwech clashed in the Magenis area of Upper Nile State. Tensions remain high in the area.

In addition, a group calling itself The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) called for a civil uprising in the country. Increased reports of arbitrary arrests, curtailed freedoms of assembly and expression, and armed confrontations in different parts have plagued the nation.