South Sudanese rebels allied to former Frist Vice President Riek Machar are ratcheting down expectations for regional bloc’s (IGAD) extraordinary summit due in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Monday.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also the chairperson of the East African regional bloc IGAD, called the extra-ordinary summit with hopes of finding solutions to the dire security situation in South Sudan.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, who is a leading member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), accused the leaders of the East African nations belonging to the regional bloc the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of supporting Kiir’s government.
Manawa said their team will hold meetings with the regional leaders in Addis Ababa to discuss ways of finding solutions to the ongoing conflict in the country.
The opposition official downplayed expectations of results from the IGAD meeting in Addis Ababa tomorrow. However, he said they will go to express their views on the current situation in South Sudan.
Last week, President Kiir decided not to take up an invitation from the East African regional bloc IGAD to attend the extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa. His office said Kiir will be busy with other commitments within the country.