South Sudan’s Vice President James Wani Igga had a “fruitful meeting” with senior United States government officials in New York on Sunday, according to his press secretary, who highlighted Igga’s support for the recently signed peace agreement.
Igga’s position on the peace deal is not shared by all of his peers in government, some of whom have lashed out at the United States and other members of the ‘Troika’ – Norway and the United Kingdom, saying their backing for the IGAD peace process was not wanted.
According to David Mayen Ayarbior, Igga’s press secretary, the vice president met with Thomas Shannon, Counselor of the US State Department and Donald Booth, US Special Envoy.
“The two ambassadors called the current compromise made by the government to be for the sake of ‘a second birth’ of the state, after the first birth four years ago. That the U.S. remains a true friend to the people of South Sudan and it will never abandon the country at any time, not least at a time when it most needs its friends,” David said of the discussion.
He said also that the meeting discussed funding for the implementation phase of the recently signed agreement. “As the ambassadors expressed absolute U.S. commitment to standing with the people of South Sudan, they accepted the arguments of the VP, Ministers Deng Athorbei and Awan Gol that funding for the implementation could not be handled by South Sudan alone and that certain areas require prior funding and preparation before they commenced on the ground.”
David concluded, “Old friends are making unequivocal statements of commitment to helping South Sudan go through the deep mistrust of the coming days and rebuild a strong foundation for sustainable peace and development.”
“The choice is now for South Sudanese to either engage in a war of attrition where there will be no victor even in a hundred years as the country stands at the brink, or swallow their misplaced pride, bitterness and hatred, if only for the sake of posterity.”
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