The East African Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is expected to convene another summit on the crisis in South Sudan, hosted by the Ethiopian prime minister. The dates for the meeting have not yet been set.
In a statement Monday, Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman said he was informed that the “mini-summit” would involve IGAD leaders and the chiefs of South Sudan’s two warring factions. He said the meeting “is expected to take place in the next days.”
Earlier the chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin announced that that the “mini-summit” would build on the progress of a similar summit held last November.
“I have consulted with the Chairperson of IGAD, H.E. the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, who plans to convene a Mini-Summit imminently, comprising himself, the Rapporteur of IGAD President Kenyatta and the two Principals, to complete the Summit negotiations where they were adjourned,” the mediator disclosed during a speech in mid-December.
Mesfin did not mention the leaders of Uganda or Sudan. It is not clear at this stage whether or not they will be participating.
The dates for the summit have not yet been announced and the schedule remains undetermined pending consultations with the IGAD heads of state.