By Matik Kueth
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mohammed Ali Youssouf, reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to fully support the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
Youssouf, who led an AU-IGAD delegation to South Sudan, made this statement at a high-level consultation meeting with President Salva Kiir at the State House in Juba on Monday.
The meeting comes barely on the heels of an African Union “Panel of the Wise” visit to Juba last month, dispatched to engage leaders in dialogue after the ‘house arrest’ of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
While in Juba, the elite team met with President Salva Kiir and other groups, including peace partners, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations, but nothing has been heard since the Panel of the Wise left the country.
Yousouf emphasized that the delegation’s mission was one of solidarity, standing with the people and government in their efforts towards peace.
He urged South Sudanese leaders to unite, complete the transitional roadmap, and pave the way for democratic elections.
Chol Mawut Ajongo, Minister of Presidential Affairs, stressed the meeting’s significance for strengthening diplomatic and political interaction, providing the delegation with firsthand knowledge of the current situation.
However, the delegation further addressed speeding the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, enhancing regional peace and security, and promoting progressive democratic governance in the country.
The African Union chief is in the country for a two-day visit to defuse ongoing political tensions in South Sudan, though Dr. Machar remains under house arrest since the government has threatened to charge him in court for instigating conflict in Upper Nile State if proven guilty.
The AU and IGAD delegation’s visit demonstrates the continental and regional institutions’ ambition to help South Sudan achieve peace, stability, and democracy.