The Chairperson of the IGAD Mediation Team to South Sudan Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin and IGAD Special Envoys Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo and Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi alongside the IGAD Executive Secretary Ambassador (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim concluded a fruitful mission to Juba between 7 and 8 January 2014.
The Mediation team, while in Juba, met H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan who reiterated his government's position that the current crisis is political and he reaffirmed his full support to the search for a political solution. The President also expressed the government's commitment to unconditional negotiations on cessation of hostilities to bring an end to the violence in his country.
The Envoys also met the detainees and held candid discussions on the crisis. The detainees concurred that the crisis is indeed a political one requiring political solution.
In light of the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa, the detainees expressed their support to the talks on unconditional cessation of hostilities and further stated that their status as detainees should not be an impediment to reaching an agreement on cessation of hostilities.
Concluding their two-day mission, the Special Envoys note that there is indeed major progress on the issue of cessation of hostilities as both the government and the detainees have committed to unconditional negotiations on the same. They also note that there continues to be a progress towards political dialogue.
Direct negotiation between the Parties is continuing in Addis Ababa in good spirit.