South Sudan
South Sudan President Salva Kiir left the capital on Wednesday and headed to Ethiopia ahead of a planned meeting with his rival and rebel leader Riek Machar ahead of planned talks to try to negotiate an end to a five-year-old civil war, an official said.
“IGAD has decided to call face-to-face dialogue between our president and Riek Machar on outstanding issues,” Awut Deng, a senior member of Kiir’s delegation, said before departing, referring to the regional East African bloc.
“So we expect the face-to-face meeting between our president and Riek Machar will be today as scheduled by IGAD.”
Hope for peace in South Sudan
Kiir recently met the Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed who is the current chair of IGAD, and the two leaders agreed that a peace deal is viable.
IGAD led talks to revive the 2015 peace deal have stagnated after parties failed to agree on salient issues that could conclusively end the civil war. Kenyan veteran politician, Raila Odingaalso met both Machar and Kiir to facilitate the first face-to-face meeting of the two rivals since July 2016.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the civil war that broke out in late 2013 when troops loyal to Machar, the former vice president of South Sudan, launched a rebellion against the government.
All sides in the now complex and multi-faceted war stand accused by the United Nations and other bodies of committing atrocities against civilians.
01:02
Pics of the day: April 25, 2024
01:50
Families of Ethiopia 737 Max crash victims seek revival of criminal charge against Boeing
00:49
London Marathon: Women's-only world record, Kenyan double victory
00:59
Donors pledge $630 million for conflict-hit Ethiopia
Go to video
Hellen Obiri claims back-to-back Boston Marathon titles, leading Kenyan women's podium sweep
01:04
Kenya proposes treaty to ease Somalia-Ethiopia tensions