Ethiopia's Prime Minister urges peace in visit to South Sudan

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle, JUBA South Sudan

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed landed in Juba on Monday for talks with President Salva Kiir on bilateral issues amid tensions within South Sudan over the 2018 peace agreement.

Abiy also held discussions with First Vice President Riek Machar on the challenges hindering the implementation of the peace deal.

“The two leaders (Kiir and Abiy) headed the government secretariat where they held a meeting on bilateral matters with regional dimension including the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement,” acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Male, told reporters after the meeting.

“South Sudan values ​​its historical ties with Ethiopia and appreciates Ethiopian key interest in restoring peace and stability,” said Mr Male.

Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was part of the delegation, Misganu Arega, reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting Juba to achieve durable peace.

“Ethiopia pleads particular importance to the peace and stability of South Sudan and stands committed to peaceful resolution of issues,” said ambassador Misganu.

Abiy was in Juba for a one-day official visit.

Abiy’s visit to Juba came amid the latest row between the principals --President Kiir and his deputy Machar -- over the swapping of two key ministerial posts that are part of the 2018 peace deal, which allocated the portfolio to parties of the agreement.

Mr Kiir and Dr Machar met on Friday in a bid to resolve the dispute but are yet to conclude the matter.

Peace guarantors, including the African Union, United Nations and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), urged the parties to resolve the latest dispute and expedite the full implementation of the peace deal.

In a joint statement, they encouraged “a renewed focus by all signatories to the Revitalised Peace Agreement as outlined in the roadmap, for its full and timely implementation” while urging the parties “to maintain collegial collaboration, continuous consultations, and consensus-building in the letter and spirit of the Revitalised Agreement.”

Early February this year, Pope Francis made a final appeal for peace in South Sudan as he celebrated Mass before tens of thousands of people to close out an unusual mission by Christian religious leaders to nudge forward the country's recovery from civil war.

On the last day of his African pilgrimage, Francis begged South Sudanese people to lay down their weapons and forgive one another, presiding over Mass at the country's monument to independence hero John Garang before an estimated 100,000 people, including the country's political leadership.

"Even if our hearts bleed for the wrongs we have suffered, let us refuse, once and for all, to repay evil with evil," Francis said. "Let us accept one another and love one another with sincerity and generosity, as God loves us."