The African Union’s High Representative to South Sudan has asked President Paul Kagame to add his voice to those calling on South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to sign a peace deal to end conflict in his country.
Alpha Oumar Konaré made the revelation yesterday evening while talking to journalists shortly after meeting President Kagame at Village Urugwiro in Kigali.
“We came here to ask for the support and the leadership of President Kagame so that everything goes according to the plan so that the entire African leadership is highly engaged on the South Sudanese issue,” Konaré said referring to the peace deal.
While the peace deal in South Sudan was signed by some fighting groups in the country early last week, President Kiir asked for a few days to conduct consultations before putting his signature on the accord brokered by African leaders under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Even if President Kiir did not sign the peace deal last week, Konaré said that, he hoped the South Sudan leader would soon sign the deal.
“We are hoping that he will not take long to sign the peace deal,” he said.
President Kagame is one of five presidents who make up the AU’s High-Level ad hoc Committee, which has been appointed to enhance Africa’s support to the mediation efforts in South Sudan by IGAD.
The High-Level ad hoc Committee comprises the heads of state and governments of Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa.
“We are certain that with the support of President Kagame we can be on the right track on the South Sudanese file. We want to hear his analysis and advice. We want him to add his voice to the voices of four other presidents in the committee (AU High-Level ad hoc Committee) so that the people of South Sudan can listen to us and trust the leadership of Africa,” Konaré said.
He noted that African leaders will be needed to help the people of South Sudan in the implementation of the peace deal once it is signed by all parties.
The New Times
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