Sep 17, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, met Kenyan Special Envoy and Former Vice President, Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.
According to the office of the First Vice President, the two leaders discussed the progress made in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“The visiting Kenyan Special Envoy and former Vice President, H.E. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, today discussed with the First Vice President, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the progress made and challenges faced in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).” Read part of a statement from Dr. Machar’s office.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Hon. Musyoka said he has encouraged Dr. Machar, as well as Kiir, to maintain focus on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
The Kenyan special envoy believes that the South Sudanese leaders are on a bitter track but at least they are now heading in the right direction.
“We consulted with the First Vice President and I encourage him to continue on the bitter track and Salva Kiir has decided to follow” Hon. Musyoka said.
“It is bitter in the sense that they walked this before but now under the letter and spirit of the revitalized peace agreement so we have to encourage them as Kenya’s Special Envoy” He elaborated.
Extending business to Kenya
The Kenyan envoy, who is one of the most competitive Kenyan politicians, also encouraged the South Sudanese leaders to extend the road network to the South Sudan-Kenya border at Nadapal to join the Kenyan road network.
“But we also looked at other economic issues be it this alternative route to Kenya because on the side of Kenya we have pushed the tarmacking of the road all the way to Nadapal, from Lokichogio to Nadapal and hoping that South Sudan can also do the same” Said Hon. Musyoka
Hon. Musyoka believes that should the road be extended to Nadapal, South Sudan can benefit more from Kenyan seaport of Mombasa, Lamu and Malindi.
“it will clearly be the shortest route, this is the shortest route of South Sudan even to our seaport of Mombasa” Hon. Musyoka said.
The Kenyan politician, Hon. Musyoka has been deeply involved in the South Sudan’s journey to peace and political stability since the earliest days of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Musyoka is well remembered for his role in the Machakos protocols, one of the most important protocols of the CPA, that was signed on July 20th 2002 under the leadership of Lt Gen Lazaro K. Sumbeiywo, the then Special Envoy of the IGAD Sudan Peace Process and on behalf of the IGAD Envoys.
It was through the Machakos Protocol that the Republic of Sudan and the SPLM/A agreed to restart the peace process in Sudan with agreed principles on state and religion, structures of governance, and the right of self-determination for the people of South Sudan.
The agreement provided for a transition process, which would entail a six (6) year interim period that would include the establishment of a broad power and wealth sharing framework and conclude with a referendum for the people of Southern Sudan to determine their unity or secession with Sudan which was subsequently realized on January 9, 2011 and July 9, 2011 for referendum and the indepence, respectively.
Although South Sudan is not enjoying the fruit of the Machakos Protocols that gave birth to the CPA, leaders like Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, among others, have stood in good faith with the people of South Sudan.
