President Salva Kiir and Rebecca Garang are planing to meet on Saturday as a first step in a dialogue between the rivalling parties. The president says he is ready for unconditional dialogue with his rivals. Rebecca Garang, the widow of the SPLA founding father John Garang, supported politically the former vice-president Riek Machar who is at large after he was accussed by the president of an alleged coup. The UN Security Council chairman said during a briefing last night that Salva Kiir, Riek Machar and Rebecca Garang have agreed on an “unconditional” dialogue.
Secretary of State John Kerry has sent the US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, to travel to Juba on Saturday. The increased pressure of the US comes after a delegation of IGAD ministers had promised to visit the detained opponments of President Kiir.
Kerry said: “I called South Sudanese President Kiir and urged him, as president of all of South Sudan, to protect all South Sudanese citizens and work toward reconciliation.” He added that: “The United States and other partners are committed to the realization of South Sudan’s full political, social, and economic potential, but make no mistake: these cooperative efforts will be undermined if political disputes drag the country back into senseless conflict and strife.”
The international community has been providing South Sudan with billions of dollars in dvelopment aid and support in training and restructuring the army.
The US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a personal message to the people of South Sudan that “For all those who choose the path of peace and democracy, know that the United States will continue to stand with you, as we have at every step of your journey. But, I must also be clear: if a different choice is made, if individuals or groups seek to take or hold power through force, mass violence, or intimidation, the United States will have no choice but to withdraw our traditional, robust support”.
Photo: Rebecca Garang meeting Salva Kiir (Archive)