July 18, 2017Juba, Foreign Ministers of East African Regional bloc (IGAD) will meet in Juba on Sunday to discuss the report of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) on the implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement, said Sudan’s Foreign Ministry. Last month, South Sudan’s Minister of Information Michael Makuei said Juba would host a meeting for the IGAD countries and the Chiefs-of-Staff of the countries participating in the regional protection force during July.
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the IGAD leadership decision for hosting IGAD member states Foreign Ministers meeting in Juba. It is a clear demonstration of responsibility for ensuring peace and stability prevail in South Sudan.
Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO says IGAD have shown commitment for ensuring that peace prevail in South Sudan. The IGAD Foreign Ministers meeting in Juba that is due to take place on Sunday raises hope that IGAD is committed to resolve South Sudan political crisis in non-violent manner. It is critical meeting that the citizens of South Sudan expect tangible results. The top priorities we are expecting are;
1. IGAD Foreign Ministers taking decisions to support the peace agreement implementation.
2. IGAD to create renewal of pledge by the primary parties to the peace agreement
3. Actualization of IGAD stakeholders’ forum
4. Chiefs-of-Staffs of the contributing countries for the regional protection force should push for faster action
5. Strengthening JMEC for effective role and specifically issues of access for ceasefire monitors from ceasefire and transitional security arrangements monitoring mechanism
CEPO urges the leadership of the conflicting parties of South Sudan to take responsibility of resolving their political difference non-violently. The option of using violent approach for resolving political difference is irrelevant because its takes human lives and properties, Mr. Yakani stresssed.
Finally, we are expecting the IGAD Foreign Ministers Sunday meeting decisions will be centered on strategy for supporting the effective implementation of the peace agreement.
