The signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement have voiced support for the Jeddah platform for peace in Sudan, a South Sudanese official has announced.
This comes after a two-day consultative meeting held in South Sudanese capital, Juba.
The Juba Peace Agreement was signed in Juba under the auspices of President Kiir on Oct. 3, 2020, between the Sudanese government and 14 signatories. Chad, the United Arab Emirates and IGAD are the guarantors, while Egypt and Qatar are witnesses to the peace deal.
Dr. Dhieu Mathok, rapporteur of the South Sudan mediation committee, announced the group’s backing for the Jeddah platform during a press statement after the meeting on Wednesday. The committee’s recommendation comes with the condition that the Jeddah platform plays a role in achieving peace for Sudan.
Tut Gatluak, the Chairman of the Mediation Committee for the Juba Peace Agreement and the advisor to the President for Security Affairs, acknowledged the impact of the Sudanese war on South Sudan. He noted that South Sudan is collaborating with the government of Egypt to work toward peace in Sudan. Gatluak affirmed South Sudan government’s support for the Jeddah platform.
Al-Tom Hajo, leader of the Democratic Union Party, commended South Sudan for its pivotal role in uniting Sudanese parties. He emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “For the first time, the Sudanese parties agreed unanimously.” Hajo underlined that this highlights the principle that Sudanese people can resolve their problems independently.
Hajo also acknowledged South Sudan’s valuable contributions to conflict resolution in Africa, describing it as a valuable asset. “People were expecting quarrels inside the hall, but the exact opposite happened, and the parties came out with a joint statement,” Hajo stated.
Osama Saeed, the official spokesman for the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and head of the opposition Al-Bajaa Conference, thanked President Kiir for his invitation and attention to Sudan’s situation. He believes South Sudan played a significant role in the agreement in October 2020. He expressed support for the commencement of ceasefire talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and then Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue.
Al-Tahir Hajar, a member of the Sovereignty Council and head of the Sudan Liberation Forces, explained that all parties to the peace process in Juba met with President Kiir and submitted a report on the Juba Peace Agreement’s implementation. He stressed the importance of ending the war in Sudan and the need to implement a peace agreement.
Sudan’s main warring parties resumed talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday aimed at ending a conflict that has raged for over six months and left thousands dead, the Saudi foreign ministry said.
Both sides announced Wednesday they had accepted an invitation to resume US- and Saudi-brokered negotiations in Jeddah.
Previous mediation attempts have yielded only brief truces, and even those were systematically violated.
The latest talks are being held “in partnership” with a representative of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).