May 8th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has threatened to take punitive measures against holdout opposition groups if they do not join the ongoing peace process.
This came during an extra-ordinary meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers held in South Sudan’s capital Juba on Tuesday to evaluate the progress of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September last year.
Speaking during the high-level meeting, the IGAD special envoy for South Sudan, Amb. Ismail Wais said a meeting he had with two opposition groups who are not part of the peace process was promising but said some were so tough on negotiation.
While Wais said General Thomas Cirilo Swaka – leader of the holdout opposition NAS – wanted to reopen the agreement for renegotiation, General Paul Malong, the leader of South Sudan United Front (SSUF) was open to engage with the government on peace process.
“The engagements with Gen. Paul Malong and Gen. Thomas Cirilo have been encouraging but yet to build fruits,” Wais said.
The meeting further concluded that opposition groups who are still waging war in the country poses a great threat to the peace and stability of the world’s youngest nation.
For his part, Gedu Andargachew said, “The presence of non-signatory army groups in the field is a matter of serious concern which requires sustained diplomatic and political actions.”
