Ethiopian defense minister in Juba to get ‘first-hand’ information on peace stalemate

JUBA – The Ethiopian minister of defense on Friday arrived in South Sudan’s capital Juba to obtain what he said is first-hand information on the challenges facing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, according to a statement issued by the office of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

“The Ethiopian Minister of Defense and Special Envoy to South Sudan, Dr. Abraham Belay paid a courtesy visit to the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon to discuss issues related to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” FVP Machar’s office statement reads in part.

The visiting Ethiopian senior government official said he “was sent by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to seek first-hand information on the challenges facing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and progress made so far.”

The minister pledged the government of Ethiopia’s “readiness to continue supporting the implementation of the agreement and working hand with the South Sudan government to strengthen the bilateral ties between Juba and Addis Ababa.”