By Charles K Mark
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has returned to Juba after his extended peace mission from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Angola.
According to the Office of the President, Kiir, who currently chairs the East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit, toured the Great Lakes Region to clinch up support for peace and security in the region.
Two years of cyclical conflict in the North Kivu territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in the DR Congo have forced over 1.3 million Congolese to flee their homes within the DRC, according to UNHCR.
And this led to a total of 5.7 million people becoming internally displaced across North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces, respectively.
For this reason, President Kiir’s visit focused on engaging the regional leaders to solicit amicable solutions to the conflict in the Eastern DR Congo.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. James Pitia Morgan, addressed the media upon the arrival of the president at Juba International Airport.
He said the tour was to highlight the importance of peace and stability in East Africa and the Great Lakes region.
“The President also engaged with his counterparts on matters of cooperation with DR Congo and Angola,” Minister Pitia disclosed.
He added, “The heads of state also discussed ways to restore peace and end conflict in the neighbouring Sudan.”
In Luanda, the capital of Angola, Kiir’s meeting with his counterpart João Manuel Lourenço had a glance at the situation in Sudan.
Dr. James Pitia Morgan said the meeting of the two leaders focused on the Nairobi process led by the East African Community on restoring peace and security in the DR Congo.
For his part, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio said the leaders would coordinate efforts to restore peace and security in the region.