The Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, says that Sudanese Prime Minister Dr. Abdallah Hamdok will visit Juba in the coming days to discuss current political upheavals and enhance trust among parties to the 2018 peace agreement.
Dr. Mariam made the remarks during an emergency IGAD Council of Ministers meeting held virtually on Monday to discuss the implications of the current political situation on the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Last week, SPLM/A-IO generals announced the ouster of SPLM/A-IO leader and Commander in Chief First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, replacing him with his former chief of staff Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual. Machar quickly responded by saying he was in full control of the party and its military wing. However, over the weekend, troops loyal to Machar and Gatwech clashed in the Magenis area of Upper Nile State. Tensions remain high in the area.
The Sudan News Agency, SUNA, quotes the chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers Dr. Al-Sadiq as saying that Sudan is concerned about the recent happenings between the SPLM/A-IO factions, stressing the need to find amicable solutions before the situation gets out of hand.
Al-Sadiq called on all parties to immediately stop any armed confrontations and to resort to peaceful conflict resolution.
She affirmed Sudan's unlimited support in its capacity as IGAD head for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan. She also expressed her gratitude to international partners the Troika-US, UK, and Norway- and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for their interest in promoting peace and stability in the region.