By Bida Elly David
President Salva Kiir on Sunday, traveled to Djibouti for a two-day IGAD meeting, meant to attain peace and security in the region, particularly in Sudan, which sunk into war since 15th April.
The Sudanese conflict since its eruption has led to loss of lives and displaced civilians to various places, with hundreds of thousands hosted as refugees in neighboring countries, including South Sudan.
Despite efforts by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), mediation team led by President Salva Kiir, parties to the conflict had been adamant to call for talks under the regional forum.
They even continued violating numerous ceasefires deals signed in Jeddah, meant to subside the fighting and allow for humanitarian corridors.
The United States and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia governments had clear hope upon inviting the rival principals for the talks but were surprised to witness an unexpected violation.
President Kiir now joins his regional counterparts, Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, on the IGAD mediation committee on the Sudan conflict.
In a statement posted, Sunday, on the presidential Facebook page, the three heads of state are anticipated to meet at a sideline as mediation team to deliberate on the current conflict in Sudan before the summit.
After their tentative meeting, the trio will brainstorm ways through which the tragedies in Sudan could be mitigated and later turn to the comprehensive IGAD meeting that will detail regional matters.
“President Kiir and his counterparts are expected on Monday to join the ordinary summit of the IGAD heads of state and government, which will discuss a myriad of issues concerning regional peace and security with a detailed focus on the Sudan crisis,” the statement partly reads.
The tentative briefing of the IGAD mediation team for the Sudan conflict will also focus on the humanitarian situation of refugees in South Sudan.
“President Kiir is expected to brief his counterparts on the unfolding situation as well as the progress made to de-escalate the fighting, permanent ceasefire, and opening of the humanitarian corridors in the capital Khartoum,” the statement further added.
It is not, however, clear whether representatives of the conflicting parties in Sudan will be part of the meeting or only focus on the regional security summit.
Citizens and civil society organizations still remain with the hope of seeing a positive transformation of the Sudanese situation to give access to the humanitarian corridor and livelihood in the capital, Khartoum.