South Sudan's government signed an agreement with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to legally allow the regional bloc to operate in the country.

The agreement gave privilages and immunities to IGAD members working in South Sudan, according to the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Abdoun Terkoc.

Abdoun commended IGAD for playing a positive role in South Sudan both before and after independence and reiterated his government's commitment to cooperating with the organization.

IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim committed to placing South Sudanese issues at the forefront of his organization's priorities.

Maalim added that IGAD is mobilizing resources and bringing together Ethiopian, Kenyan, and  Ugandan stakeholders to assist with food security in South Sudan.

IGAD has mediated the Addis Ababa peace negotiations for the last 13 months in hopes of ending the South Sudan Civil War.

The East African group is also helping South Sudan with human resource capacity building and fighting transnational organized crime.

Radio Tamazuj Photo: Abdoun Terkoc, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a sigining ceremonial with IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim