Advocacy group welcomes Kiir-Machar face-to-face meeting

June 8th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy(SSHURSA), a human rights advocacy group, said in a statement that it has welcomed the planned face-to-face meeting between South Sudan’s President and rebel leader Riek Machar due in the Sudanese capital Khartoum later this month.

“The South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy(SSHURSA), welcomes the prospective face-to-face meeting between the South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the Chairman and Commander-In-Chief of South Sudan’s main armed Opposition Movement: The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Army-In Opposition(SPLM/A-IO),” the group said in a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia. 

The human rights group said such move is a critical opportunity to build trust between Kiir and Machar both of whom have been fighting a bloody civil war since December 2013.

“Such a move as critical opportunity to rebuild trust between the two leaders and narrow gaps witnessed at the recent Addis Ababa based peace talk,” the statement said.

The group urged the Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) to put the country first and allow the country’s president who is a Dinka native to take decisions independently without the interference from the tribal council.

“The SSHURSA calls on the Jieng Council of Elders to put South Sudan first and allows President Kiir to make independent decisions with Dr Machar in the prospective meeting to restore peace in South Sudan,” the statement said.

The group also urged countries like China,  Russia, Uganda and Egypt to refrain from derailing the outcome of the proposed meeting due in late June.

“The SSHURSA appeals to countries especially Uganda, Egypt, China, Russia and others not to derail the outcome of the prospective meeting,” the statement said.

It urged the United Nations to take over the South Sudan peace process should the planned meeting fails to yield results.

“SSHURSA recommends that if the two leaders’ meeting yields no positive results, IGAD must transfer the Peace file to United Nations and Troika to proceed with negotiations among the parties,” the statement added.