South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir left for Addis Ababa this morning to attend the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit, which is to decide on the final peace deal in the country.
President Kiir was seen off at Juba Airport by the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai and a number of cabinet ministers and top military officers.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, South Sudan presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said President Kiir will be attending the summit which would determine whether the final peace deal will be signed or not.
“Well, I cannot talk about the deadline simply because the issue of the final signing is within the agenda of the IGAD Council of Ministers before they start the heads of state summit this afternoon…if there is a breakthrough, it will be communicated during the summit later,” he said.
Ateny, who is also the presidential press secretary, said President Kiir is expected to extend his stay in Ethiopia if the warring parties agree to sign the peace document.
“He will be extending his stay in Ethiopia so that the final peace agreement is signed while he is still there,” Ateny said.
“But if the parties don’t agree on the final document, then this is going to be a one-day visit, the president will return to Juba to wait until he is called for the final signing,” he added.
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South Sudan President leaves Juba for Ethiopia ahead of peace signing ceremony
South Sudan President boarding an unidentified aircraft for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo Credit: South Sudan Presidency)
September 12th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit has left the capital Juba for the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa ahead of the peace signing ceremony with opposition groups.
South Sudan government and opposition groups are expected to conclude the final revitalized peace agreement they initialed on August 5th to end the ongoing conflict.
Prominent opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is already in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after leaving the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday morning.
Delegates of other opposition groups are also in Addis Ababa including the government delegation.
The South Sudan Presidential Press Unit announced moments ago that the President has left the capital to attend the 33th High Level meeting of the IGAD heads of states and government.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit left Juba this morning for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 33th High Level Meeting of the IGAD Heads of States and Government,” the Presidency said in a statement.
He was accompanied by senior government ministers including the Minister of foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nhial Deng Nhial and Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth among others .
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