The Norwegian envoy to South Sudan has called on the warring parties in Sudan to end the conflict and return the country to democratic rule.
Ambassador Linken Nymann Berryman who was speaking during the commemoration of Norway’s Constitution Day on Wednesday in Juba said her country hopes for a peaceful and democratic Sudan.
The diplomat welcomed the IGAD’s choice of South Sudan President Salva Kiir as the mediator between the Sudan warring factions in Sudan.
“The guns to the north must be silenced, the suffering must be stopped. We keep up the hope for a peaceful and democratic in Sudan,” she said. “I would like to take a movement and express our thanks to His Excellency President Salva Kiir, the team leader of the IGAD assembly of heads of state and government tasked with the Sudan crisis for all the important work that has already been done and still ongoing.”
Nymann also appreciated the South Sudan government for voting against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine at the UN.
“Additionally, we thank the Government of South Sudan for voting in favor of the UN resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” she said.
Ambassador Nymann however said the Government of South Sudan must make efforts to free political space and respect fundamental freedoms.
“Values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of speech must be looked after to be kept alive and well. We keep celebrating these values, to uphold them as a priority for the future,” she said. “Many thousands before us, both in Norway and South Sudan and elsewhere have fought and paid a high price for our freedom.”
On his part, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the presidential affairs minister, said despite knowing South Sudan for being a war-torn country, it is now helping to negotiate peace in neighboring Sudan.
“Many people always know South Sudanese are for fighting and so my friends the diplomats who are here, we have shared those ideas to stop fighting. I am glad to say that South Sudan today is helping to negotiate a peace process in Sudan not only bilaterally but with the IGAD countries,” he said. “As I left the office, the president had a voice from General Mohamed Hamdan who is the head and the commander of RSF, and our president told them to cease hostilities and dialogue for a political solution.”
Minister Marial revealed that Kiir is going to invite the two Sudanese leaders for face-to-face talks in Juba.
He also appealed to the international community to support the peace process in Sudan so that South Sudan also remains at peace.