Ethiopian premier to attend graduation of South Sudan unified forces – presidency

JUBA – South Sudan presidency said on Wednesday that it has invited the Prime Minister of neighboring Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, to attend the graduation of the first batch of the unified forces provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.

Dr. Ahmed led regional leaders in his capacity as chair of the regional bloc, IGAD, in brokering a historic peace deal dubbed as Revitalized Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS) on 12 September 2018 between President Salva Kiir’s government and various rebel groups in Addis Ababa.

The deal ushered in a relative peace across the country and saw decline, in an unprecedented stage since the outbreak of war in December 2013, and saw the appointment of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the leader of the SPLM-IO, the main armed opposition group, once again as First Vice President.

Next week, the parties will graduate the first batch of an 83,000 strong force and the government has invited several regional heads of states as well as representatives of powerful South Sudan’s friends such as the US, the UK, Norway as well as members of the EU diplomatic missions in Juba.

In a statement, the presidency said Kiir met with a delegation led by cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro who visited Addis Ababa to deliver the government invitation.

“President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday met with the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Hon. Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, and the Minister of Mining, Hon. Martin Gama Abucha,” the presidency said in the statement seen by Sudans Post.

“They briefed the President about their recent mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They delivered an invitation of President Salva Kiir Mayardit to Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed to attend the graduation of the first batch of the National Unified Forces that will be held on 30th August 2022 in Juba, South Sudan,” the statement added.

In statements to the media following the meeting, Lomuro said Kiir “recognizes the role of Ethiopia in the achievement of the revitalized agreement on the resolution of conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.”