Kenya’s Ruto, Uganda’s Museveni Skip IGAD Leaders’ Meeting on South Sudan Crisis
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Kenya’s President William Ruto, and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not attend the 43rd Extraordinary Assembly of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State and Government. The virtual meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss the worsening security situation in South Sudan.
Only Two Presidents Attended IGAD Summit
The summit was chaired by Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who is also the Chairperson of IGAD. The only other president who attended was Somalia’s President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Museveni, Ruto, and Abiy were instead represented by their officials. Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Gideon Timothewos, attended on behalf of Abiy. Kenya’s National Security Advisor, Dr. Monica Juma, represented Ruto. Museveni was represented by three ministers: Jacob Marksons Oboth (Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs), Henry Oryem Okello (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Cooperation), and John Mulimba (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs).
Leaders Engaged Separately in South Sudan Peace Talks
Sources indicate that Museveni and Ruto have individually engaged with South Sudan’s leaders regarding the ongoing conflict. The IGAD summit urged South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to resolve their differences through dialogue.
“The Summit underscored that dialogue and discussion remain the only means for resolving differences,” stated the official communique.
IGAD Pushes for Peace Amid Escalating Violence
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) as the foundation for peace. Leaders expressed concern over the rising violence, ceasefire violations, and tensions in Juba and other regions.
“We expressed alarm at the rising tensions in Juba and elsewhere following the Nasir incident and the arrest of senior SPLM/A-IO military and government officials,” the communique added.
IGAD remains committed to overseeing South Sudan’s fragile peace process. The first IGAD-brokered peace agreement in 2015 collapsed after a new war erupted in 2016. A second peace deal, signed in 2018, led to the formation of a unity government, but instability continues.
Conclusion
With key leaders absent from the IGAD summit, questions arise about the effectiveness of regional efforts to stabilize South Sudan. While diplomatic representatives played their roles, the presence of top leaders could have reinforced IGAD’s push for peace. The region now waits to see if South Sudan’s warring parties will honor their commitments to dialogue and end the violence.
Kenya’s Ruto, Uganda’s Museveni Skip IGAD Leaders’ Meeting on South Sudan Crisis
