Ruto Lands Powerful New Diplomatic Role After IGAD Mission Ends
On Tuesday, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, represented by Minister of Presidential Affairs Bangasi Joseph Bakasoro, requested President William Ruto to facilitate discussions between the government and factions that did not sign the 2018 peace agreement.
As per Bakasoro’s comments to Eye Radio, a South Sudanese media platform, the action is perceived as a strategic maneuver aimed at fostering peace within the nation.
During the interview, Bakasoro commented that President Kiir was anticipating Ruto to initiate the process promptly. The government anticipates that the peace negotiations will set the stage for the peaceful elections slated for 2024.
“The President of the Republic, His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, after long consultations with some individuals, I think has accepted and agreed to ask his brother and his colleague and our neighbor, His Excellency William to host and mediate peace between the government of South Sudan and the holdout group called SOMMA in Nairobi,” he told the media.
Bakasoro elaborated that Kiir was eager to enter the elections alongside the involved factions, aiming to potentially gain political positions in the upcoming government.
The Minister also disclosed that President Kiir had provided an opportunity for the groups to participate in talks facilitated by Ruto, aiming to create a peace treaty.
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Ruto is set to assume control of a Catholic organization in Rome, which was responsible for addressing the issue but was unsuccessful by the beginning of March.
President Kiir’s statement follows the conclusion of the term of a peacebuilding group in Sudan headed by Ruto by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).
IGAD disbanded the team following its submission of a thorough report on the Sudan crisis. The organization clarified that the report would be endorsed to promote the pursuit of enduring peace.
“The responsibility has now been handed over to IGAD and the African Union. Quartet has ended its role so there is no more quartet to this point. So, it is now the responsibility of IGAD and AU to take this process forward,” IGAD stated.
Ruto served as the Chair and headed the group comprising Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.
He secured his position in the middle of 2023, yet faced resistance from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) who alleged his bias towards the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and suspected his personal involvement in the conflict.
Ruto Lands Powerful New Diplomatic Role After IGAD Mission Ends