By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday welcomed a high-level delegation from the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to the presidential palace.
The AU delegation, led by Dr. Mohammed Khaled, Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the current Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council, discussed 2018 peace issues.
While the citizen put hope on AU to bring peace, the president, on the other hand, continued to reaffirm his commitment to the 2018 peace agreement.
After the arrest of Dr. Riek Machar Teny in March this year, a series of violations of the 2018 peace agreement have been reported, including armed confrontations between parties.
In March Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, met President Kiir following the arrest of Dr. Riek Machar.
According to the office of the president, the meeting was successful, and President Kiir reaffirmed his commitment to the peace agreement.
Also, in April the African Union Commission (AUC) Panel of the Wise delegation met President Salva Kiir as well as other stakeholders with hope to bring peace and stability to the country.
Despite a series of meetings, the statement to the media spelled commitment toward peace.
However, both the political and the economic situation continue to worsen, according to a series of reports across the country.
Fresh meeting
The current meeting between President Salva Kiir and the AUPSC has a similar look, with the president repeating never to take the country back to war.
President Kiir expressed his unwavering dedication to the full implementation of the agreement and pledged to continue working closely with the African Union.
Speaking to the media, Monday Semaya Kumba, the foreign affairs minister, reiterated the president’s commitment and a need for joint efforts to handle peace challenges.
On his part, Dr. Mohammed Khaled reaffirmed AU commitment to peace in South Sudan.
He added that the delegation came to gather information and seek necessary means to address the deadlock.
In a separate meeting with the AU delegation, Kuol Manyang, the Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), expressed that Dr. Machar’s arrest was not political but criminal in nature.
He added that it is a normal practice that when someone is connected to a crime, they can be arrested and presented before the court.
Opposite views
However, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino the Acting Chairman of Sudan people Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) wrote a letter addressed to AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) who visited Juba.
Oyet called on the AU delegation to prioritize release of Dr. Machar and resolving the ongoing violations to the peace agreement.
In a statement Oyet noted the several violations that need to be addressed immediately.
He claimed that the opposition has been locked out from several consultations related to Peace agreement.
“The SPLM/SPLA-IO would like to report to your Excellency that it has been successfully locked-out by the SPLM-IG from any consultative meeting with the AUPSC” he said in statement.
On his part Ter Manyang a civil society in Juba called on AU to reach a decision should the government failed to realized Dr. Machar and other political detainees.
“In case the SPLM-IG refuse to release Dr. Riek Machar Teny and Other Political detainees, The AU should pass the resolution declaring the Revitalized Agreement to have collapsed and the government ceases to be legitimate that calls for the AU to fill the vacuum with new legitimate government” he said in statement addressed to AU delegation.
Despite series of call, commitment and AU meeting with President and the government what next as conflict persist in some part of the country.