Activist Yakani urges Kiir to renegotiate relations with America during US-Africa meeting

JUBA – A prominent civil society activist is appealing to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to take the US-Africa summit seriously, describing the gathering as an important opportunity for South Sudan to revisit its stained tires with the world superpower.

President Kiir was invited this week, according to the US state department, to a meeting bringing together President Joe Biden and around 50 African heads of states to discuss relations, security and peace-building as well as climate change.

Kiir’s office has not yet confirmed as to if the South Sudanese head of state will attend the important event.

In a statement, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani urged President Kiir to take the summit seriously, arguing that it is a great opportunity for South Sudan to revisit its ties with the United States.

“The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) hopes the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit take this opportunity for renegotiating foreign relations with the United States leadership for opening of new chapter,” Yakani said.

“The US-African leadership summit is a strategic event for renegotiation and renewal of foreign relations between African governments including that in South Sudan and the United States government,” the activist added.

He said that “the summit offers golden opportunity for the leadership of South Sudan to get engaged in renegotiating renewal of foreign relations cooperation with Washington.

“This is critical for South Sudan leadership since the country is under political transitional process that will end by conduct of national general elections in December 2024 that may require international support for credibility and acceptance of results.

“Juba should take this invitation for the US-African leaders summit serious and an opportunity of opening new chapter in the face of bad relation with USA government. South Sudan cannot as an island of its own. South Sudan needs wider foreign relationship to address it home affairs through foreign aid,” Yakani stressed.