IGAD Executive Secretary Concludes a Three-day Visit to South Sudan

March 13, 2020 (JUBA, South Sudan): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, was in Juba, South Sudan as part of his tour to the member states of the regional bloc. The three-day working visit, which wrapped-up yesterday, coincided with the process of the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) of the Republic of South Sudan which was announced yesterday night.

On March 11, Dr Workneh met with the President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, at the Presidential Palace. The Executive Secretary congratulated the President for his leadership and for an inclusive Peace Process which concluded successfully. He committed IGAD to support the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity.

The same day, he also held discussions with the First Vice President, H.E. Dr Riek Machar Teny. Dr Workneh commended Dr Machar for his ‘contribution to the success of the Peace Process’. After which the Executive Secretary then stressed the ‘urgent need for the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) to be formed the soonest so as to move on towards addressing key pending matters’.

Dr Workneh successively held discussions with H.E Vice President Dr James Wani Igga, H.E. Vice President Taban Deng Gai, and H.E. Vice President Rebecca Garang. He assured them that ‘IGAD will keep on standing by the leaders and people of South Sudan’ and that the organisation ‘remains engaged during the critical revitalised transitional period’.

Towards the end of the day of March 11 in the IGAD South Sudan Office in Juba, the Executive Secretary took the time to exchange on the current situation with Ambassadors of African nations accredited to South Sudan. All agreed that the motto ‘African solutions to African problems’ was an essential component to reaching lasting peace and sustainable development.

The three-day visit ended yesterday morning with a gathering that brought together the Executive Secretary and Ambassadors of development partners countries to South Sudan at the Liaison Office of the regional bloc in Juba. He called on them to ‘work with the government of South Sudan’ and ‘to keep on working with us for the betterment of the people of South Sudan’.

On top of these engagements, Dr Workneh did hold separate consultation meetings and briefing sessions with Ambassador Lt General (Rtd) Augustino Njoroge, Chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) which is ‘responsible for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement’; and David Shearer, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to South Sudan and Head of the UN Mission to South Sudan.

As he wrapped up his visit, Dr Workneh said that he took stock of the goodwill from the leaders and other stakeholders he met, and the readiness of sister countries as well partners’ to bring the needed support to the new government of South Sudan for a successful transition period.

As the new government was announced yesterday night, the Executive Secretary tweeted a congratulations message to President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar and ‘all the leaders of South Sudan for the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity’. He reiterated his ‘support and that of IGAD member states to the new government’.