Kiir, Machar to iron out differences per peace deal, says Sudanese minister
The Sudanese defence minister-designate, Lt Gen Yassin Ibrahim, said President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar have shown commitment to solving the controversy surrounding the dismissal of Angelina Teny as the minister of defence and veteran affairs.
Finding a middle ground on behalf of IGAD, whose chairmanship is held by Sudan, Ibrahim said the solutions to the impasse as agreed by the two leaders will come from the provisions of the revitalised peace agreement.
Speaking to the media at Juba International Airport on Friday before returning with the Sudanese delegation to Sudan, Ibrahim exuded confidence that a solution would soon be found.
“The Government of Sudan sought to address the consequences of the March decision through multiple consultation sessions with the concerned parties that extended from March 13 to March 17, during which consensual proposals were submitted according to the vision of the mediation, and efforts are still being made to reach satisfactory solutions,” he said.
“We presented a package of previous violations of the agreement… and it was agreed upon by the government of South Sudan to move forward with implementing the agreement”.
He emphasised that the agreement is the main reference for all parties to achieve peace, security, and stability in South Sudan and that the commitment of the parties to implement it in letter and spirit is the basis for implementing it.
“We are proceeding from the keenness of the two states, Sudan and South Sudan, to achieve peace and security and establish peace in the two countries and in the region as a whole,” he said.
“[This is] within the framework of the role of Sudan as the head of IGAD and one of the main guarantors in the revitalized agreement to resolve the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan”.
Ibrahim added that through these sessions, they sensed the parties’ keenness to move forward with implementing the agreement and achieving sustainable peace for the citizens of South Sudan.
“The government of Sudan is sure that the path to sustainable peace comes through activating consultation and the spirit of brotherhood between the parties to the agreement. There is no other way for the stability of the Republic of South Sudan and the region as a whole,” he said.
“The efforts of the Sudanese government will continue to find a way out of the current crisis through various possible ways, in order to sense the spirit of responsibility and the spirit of brotherhood between the two peoples.”
He appealed to all parties to show a spirit of determination and persistence and to move forward in implementing the agreement.
The Presidential Advisor for Security Affairs, Tut Galuak, and the Sudanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Ambassador Jamal Abdul Majeed, were present at the farewell of the Sudanese delegation, which consisted of a member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Akabashi, and the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Yassin Ibrahim.
President Kiir relieved Teny of her duties in the defence ministry nearly two weeks ago, sparking protests from the SPLM-IO, the party that nominated her for the position.
