IGAD to meet over South Sudan crisis

NAIROBI, Kenya

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has announced that it will conduct a virtual meeting on Wednesday to address the ongoing tensions among the peace parties in South Sudan.

According to a statement released to the media, the IGAD Secretariat, following directives from the Chair, intends to convene an extraordinary summit to respond to the escalating issues related to the South Sudan Peace Agreement.

“The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is set to convene the 43rd Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to address the evolving situation in South Sudan. The Summit will be held virtually on Wednesday, 12th March 2025,” the statement partly read.

“IGAD, as the guarantor of the Revitalised Agreement (R-ARCSS), remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting dialogue, de-escalating tensions, and securing a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan,” it added.

On March 4, fighting erupted in Nassir County, leaving several people dead, including an air force pilot and the killing of an army commander days later.

Despite the presidential meeting to address the crisis in Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal, tensions have continued in some areas.

As several actors called on parties to respect the peace agreement the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) has called on IGAD member countries to urgently convene in Juba to address the escalating tensions in South Sudan before the 2018 peace agreement collapses.

In a statement released to the media, CPA’s Director, Ter Manyang emphasized the need for peace guarantors and IGAD members to meet with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

Manyang insists that it is imperative for IGAD members to engage with both leaders in order to address the rising issues and work towards de-escalating the tension in the country.

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development IGAD is a regional bloc that comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda

Activist Manyang requested the bloc to urgently meet in Juba to ensure that the ongoing Tension does not escalate into the stage that may derail the 2018 peace agreement.

“CPA urges the heads of state and government of IGAD to come to Juba to meet with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to de-escalate high tension before they spiral out of control,” Manyang said.

He expressed that South Sudanese have been exhausted by the previous wars and continue to hope that It is the collective responsibility and primary duty of leaders to build peace in the country.

The activist added that while there are a series of misunderstandings between principal parties to the peace deal the IGAD countries have to intervene to avoid full-scale war.

“Therefore, the heads of state and government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) cannot passively watch as South Sudan descends into “full-scale war,” which is not what the citizens desire” he said.

He added that the IGAD countries bear the responsibility of ensuring that both President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar do not lead the country back into war.

“Both Kiir and Machar bear collective responsibility for fostering peace and delivering it to the South Sudanese people,” he said.

The activist appeals to South Sudan leaders to solve misunderstandings through dialogue and implement the peace agreement.