Ethiopia relinquishes IGAD chairmanship as IGAD Summit concludes without Peace Deal

IGAD Summit concludes with agreement still elusive. Key takeaways: (1) Machar’s placed in new TGONU unconfirmed, but he is now – more or less a free man, (2) Power-sharing arrangements continue to defy solution, (3) Ethiopia hands over the peace process to others. The new PM made it clear that Ethiopia would relinquish its chairmanship of IGAD. ‘This is the first and last IGAD Summit that I chair’, he declared. Dated 21 June 2018

Saturday, June 23, 2018 (PW) — The Summit meeting of IGAD Heads of State was concluded today (21 June 2018) within a few hours agreeing to continue the peace process in follow up meetings in Khartoum and Nairobi. Prior to the Summit, foreign ministers met to hear the report of IGAD Special Envoy Ismael Wais. He explained the steps taken over the past month to narrow the differences between the parties – the Government (TGONU), the SPLM-IO and the opposition South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

The Council of Ministers, which had been expected to endorse the ‘Bridging Proposal’ drafted by IGAD surprised many with Sudan suggesting that rather than endorse a proposal and demand that the parties ‘take it or leave it,’ that the Summit be apprised of the situation and decide on how to proceed. While Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia backed Ethiopia in supporting the full endorsement of the IGAD proposal Sudan, a doubtful Uganda, and lukewarm Kenya were inclined go let the IGAD Summit decide on it without the full endorsement of the Council of Ministers.

CEPO: IGAD Ends Revitalization Forum, Sets New Deadline for the Final Peace Deal

 Press Statement from CEPO: IGAD has ended the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) and Set a New Deadline for the Final Peace Deal between President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar

Saturday, June 23, 2018 (2018) — The East African bloc, IGAD, has ended the revitalization forum and gave a two-week deadline from 21^st June, 2018 for a final peace deal in South Sudan to be sign in Ethiopia-Addis Ababa, a top government official said. Michael Makwei Lueth, South Sudan’s Minister of Information, said the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) has come to an end.

“It is agreed that the revitalization has come to an end and as a result the meetings will continue in three phases,” he said. “Phase one, we will go to Khartoum on June 25 to go and discuss the outstanding issues and initial whatever is agreed there. After that there shall be held the AU summit and after the AU summit we will move to Kenya where we will go and continue negotiating on the outstanding issues,” he explained.

In memory of the Late Aleu Anei Aleu who was killed by his Nuer in-laws in Uganda

In memory of late, Aleu Anei Aleu, who breached the Dinka and Nuer relations only to earn him a fatal attacks from his Nuer in laws due to political differences in South Sudan

By Dut Agostino Agei, Nairobi, Kenya

The late Aleu Anei Aleu during his graduation ceremony

Saturday, June 23, 2018 (PW) — South Sudan nationals all over the Country and outside world mourns the untimely death of Aleu Anei Aleu. Late Aleu Anei was in South Sudan until he recently travelled to Uganda where he encountered multiple attacks in Northern Uganda western Nile regions.

In the words of regrets Aleu was killed by his Nuer in laws who are said to be in supports of regime change in Juba, South Sudan.

This is paradox according to several views. Aleu Anei was not a pro-Government. He was also not a pro-opposition but he was a pro-all South Sudanese who are in South Sudan.

He was a very emblem of a national unity the reason he went beyond any one else expectations and wed from the Greater upper Nile region and the duo were blessed with children.

The demands by warring parties can’t help South Sudan achieves political stability

By David Matiop Gai, Juba, South Sudan

Saturday, 23 June 2018 (PW) — I had been a campaigning agent for peace and political stability in South Sudan for two years and half on my own capacity because peace is a medicine for treating our inner disease of hatred, bitterness, and jealousy within oneself. But different impossible demands and pressures from within the region, among South Sudanese themselves and international community confused the process of peace.

Reading from Paanluelwel, the IO leadership preferred Dr. Riek Machar proposing “CPA Model” the Sudan peace contents under President Omar Bashir and Dr. John Garang and the current South Sudan peace process to match together but they are quite different.

The CPA Model proposed by Dr. John Garang de Mabior with two armies in the Sudan was the intention to safeguarded referendum, and session of South Sudan from Sudan, because the SPLA army was an army from the Southern Sudan to protect essences of peace and separation. In other words, Southern Sudan for decades had been deceived for many years and with this deception they learnt from the Sudan where the army from the Southern region was absorbed in the Sudan army and dishonest of some agreements surfaced the history.