March 19th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, Amb. Ismail Wais, met on Tuesday with the leader of the South Sudan Patriotic Front (SSPF) splinter group, Gen. Abdel Baggi Ayii in Juba to discuss the ongoing split in the group that was initially let by Dr. Costello Garang.
The meeting, according to a statement released by the rebel opposition faction, took place at the Palm African Hotel on Tuesday on the sideline of the inaugural meeting of the Independent Boundary Commission (IBC).
“A delegation of the South Sudan Patriotic Front/Army [SSPF/A] led by Chairman and Commander in Chief Gen. Abdel Baggi Ayii met with the IGAD Special Envoy, Ambassador Ismail, at the Palm African Hotel in Juba today,” the statement issued by the group’s spokesman Malong Thik Riing partly read.
The statement further said the meeting discussed under the group’s War Ayen Conference it’s position in supporting the peace agreement and the importance of the unity of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
Last month, Gen. Abdel Baggi Ayii announced that he had ousted Dr. Costello Garang accusing him of working to derail the ongoing peace process. Garang’s group later issued a statement dismissing the claim and said Gen. Ayii is no longer a member of the group.
It is not clear whether the IGAD envoy has accepted the participation of Ayii’s faction separately because he said early this month that he will not accept new opposition groups into the peace agreement.
