Ex-Kenyan vice-president meets Kiir over peace implementation in Juba

JUBA – Former Kenyan Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has this afternoon met President Salva Kiir Mayardit and held talks on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement which has seen setbacks in recent months over lack of political will between the parties.

In a tweet earlier in the day, Kalonzo who is the Kenyan presidential envoy for peace in South Sudan said he was welcomed to the state-house J1 in Juba by minister of presidential affairs Barnaba Marial Benjamin.

“I was welcomed by Amb. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan’s Minister for Presidential Affairs to the State House, Juba, for talks with H.E. President Salva Kiir on the peace process in South Sudan,” Kalonzo said in the tweet.

He told the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) that his visit “is to encourage our brothers and sisters in South Sudan to fully realize the benefits that will accrue with the full implementation of the ARCSS, and see His Excellency President Salva Kiir and the First Vice President and others to encourage them.”

“The government of South Sudan has decided to return to the Rome negotiation unconditionally to be able to give everybody a chance.”

In a statement, the presidency said “President Salva Kiir Mayardit met in his Office, with Kenyan Special Envoy to South Sudan Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and discussed wide range of issues pertaining to the progress of the ongoing implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement as well as issues of bilateral relations between South Sudan and Kenya.”

The statement added that “The Minister of Presidential Affairs Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon Mayiik Ayii Deng attended the meeting.”