By Kei Emmanuel Duku
IGAD Heads of State have called on the South Sudanese government to release recently detained opposition leaders.
The demand was issued during the 43rd Extraordinary Assembly, a virtual meeting chaired by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, the current IGAD Assembly Chairperson.
Leaders expressed deep concern over the escalating security situation in Juba and other regions, citing renewed violence, ceasefire violations, and an increase in violent incidents.
A communique released after the virtual meeting on Wednesday highlighted rising tensions in Juba and the Nasir County incident in Upper Nile State, which led to the arrest of senior Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) military and government officials.
The call follows the confirmation by President Salva Kiir and the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan of the killing of General Majur Duk, Commander of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, in Nasir County, along with others, including a UN crew during an evacuation mission.
IGAD condemned the violence, urging parties to adhere to the 2018 peace agreement, respect the permanent ceasefire, and expedite the implementation of transitional security arrangements.
“Parties to the peace agreement should immediately de-escalate tensions and focus on meeting critical deadlines. Detained individuals should be released unless credible evidence warrants legal proceedings, which must be conducted transparently and under due process,” the communique stated.
The Regional Leaders acknowledged President Kiir’s commitment to de-escalating tensions after the Nasir incident, as well as his joint call for calm with Deputy President Dr. Riek Machar which they encouraged continued efforts to restore confidence.
IGAD Head of State called on the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to investigate the Nasir clashes and the attack on the UN helicopter, ensuring accountability for any violations.
They further urged the reactivation of security mechanisms affected by the opposition leaders’ arrests.
The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan was tasked with intensifying engagement with other armed groups to secure adherence to the 2018 ceasefire.
However, a new IGAD Ministerial-level sub-committee on South Sudan was formed to monitor the restoration of calm and the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), focusing on force unification, constitution drafting, and election preparations.
The sub-committee will travel to Juba to assess modalities for inclusive dialogue, building on the R-ARCSS and other peace initiatives.
“We encouraged grassroots peace dialogues and called upon religious and traditional leaders, and civil society, to support reconciliation initiatives, complement these efforts, and advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of women, youth, and other under-represented groups,” the communique added.
IGAD leaders attributed the recent violence to a lack of trust among R-ARCSS parties, emphasizing the need for dialogue and unity among South Sudan’s leadership. Regular presidential meetings were recommended to address implementation progress and emerging issues.
They also acknowledged regional heads of state for their engagement with South Sudan’s leadership and the deployment of delegations to Juba, which helped calm the situation.
Over the week SPLM/A-IO confirmed the release of some detained officials but continues to demand the release of others suspected of involvement in the Nasir clashes.