By Lodu William Odiya
The African Union (AU) visiting team to Juba has called on South Sudan government to ensure stability as the election approaches.
According to the statement issued by the presidential press unit yesterday, the AU team made the call during the meeting with President Salva Kiir.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has pledged government’s commitment to peace and stability as the country prepares for the long-awaited general elections scheduled for December this year.
The President made the assurance during meeting with a delegation from the African Union High level Adhoc Committee on South Sudan C5, led by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.
In a joint statement, Minister Lamola said “they are in Juba to examine the status of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and to review the progress that has been achieved as far as election preparation is concerned” the statement read.
He called for calm and solidarity in order to allow the necessary conditions for holding elections to be fully realised.
For his part, South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monday Semaya Kumba reaffirmed government’s determination to achieve peace, hold elections, and continue with cordial cooperation with regional and international partners.
“The C5 comprises members from Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, tasked by the African Union (AU) to engage directly with peace stakeholders in South Sudan in an effort to establish consensus and expedite the implementation of the peace agreement” the statement partly read.
On Wednesday 14, this year, the United state Ambassador, Michael j. Adler had urged south sudan government, under the leadership of president Salva Kiir Mayardit to maintain and deliver services to the citizens.
Several calls for peace have been made by embassies of the United Kingdom, United States, as well as the delegation of the European Union to deplore the hostilities in parts of the country.
When the drums of war finally fell silent, this country will feel like a traveller who had walked through a long night and was seeing dawn for the first time.