June 15th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit, is still to decide whether he will travel to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on June 20th for the planned face-to-face meeting between him and prominent opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed sent out invitations to the South Sudanese leaders, President Salva Kiir and former First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to attend to Ethiopia for a face-to-face meeting between the two.
The Press Secretary in the Office of the President Ateny Wek Ateny told the Eye Radio on Thursday that the President is yet to decide to travelling to Ethiopia for the high-level meeting with his arch-rival Dr. Riek Machar after receiving the invitation.
“The Office of the president has received the invitation. The decision has not yet been made by the government of the Republic of South Sudan as to whether the president will be attending or not on that date,” Ateny told the Eye Radio.
Ateny pointed out that the decision for the president to travel to Addis Ababa and to endorse the meeting with the opposition leader is not something personal but rather a collective and would be for the government as whole to decide.
“This is not an individual decision but it will be collectively made as government is collectively responsible and therefore it will be a collective decision.”
The Opposition SPLM-IO said in a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia on Tuesday by the group’s Chairman of National Committee for Information and Public Relations Mabior Garang de’Mabior said they welcomes the request by the Ethiopian government for the Presence of their Chairman in the Ethiopian capital for a face-to-face meeting with President Kiir.
“The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) acknowledges receipt of the invitation letter sent by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, requesting the presence of the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), Dr. Riek Machar Teny-dhuorangun, for IGAD led face-to-face talks with President Salva Kiir on the 20th of June, 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Movement welcomes this invitation and salutes the courage of IGAD for reaching this prudent and timely decision, it will go a long way in building confidence in the peace process,” Mabior said in the statement.
The SPLM-IO however said they view the high-level meeting as a way to boost the inclusivity of the peace process but does not perceive it as the end of the conflict.
4 comments
Dear Mr. President, yes, your system has driven us apart though a South Sudanese born citizen I do not recognize the system that you are running not because you killed my own brother who was dear to me but for the simple fact that my brother death was not the last and the blood still bleeding. This wounded my soul I have been abuse unimaginably in this part of the world beyond comparison yet it is not closed to how I feel about systematic killing happening which I have lost members of my family who were close to my own heart. The point I am making is that it will be a big mistake if at some point you change your mind not to meet Machar due to your circle pressure and that will persuade everyone to be against you. Regardless of what you might have heard from your colleague make a possible effort to go to Addis Ababa.
Dear Bro.
You should have blamed Riek Machar for wrong doing, we have lost many lives because of him and John Garang and htheir cronies SPLM. Riek Machar needs to grow up and behave like educated.
John Garang, Riek Machar and their cronies. Blame that on Riek. Does America welcome back Edward Snowden? No
Does the world welcome back Julian Assange? No. Riek Machar is not welcome back in South Sudan, but if he does and then he has to settle in peace
South Sudan can not collapse, but only their big cities and Nuer. Nuer and big cities are going to collapse. I am proud to be a Dinka.