Kiir, Ethiopian premier vow to cement ties as TPLF rejects South Sudan peace offer  

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed have spoken in a lengthy phone call yesterday to discuss regional cooperation after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rejected to cooperate with regional leaders in ending the Ethiopian conflict.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, a South Sudan presidency official who requested not to be named said Ethiopian Prime Minister has welcomed regional efforts including South Sudan initiative to bring peace in Ethiopia, by the official said TPLF rejection of a peace solution to the conflict left no chance of reaching peaceful to resolve the Ethiopian conflict.

“The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has made it very clear that it is not in any position ready to listen to the regional voices calling for peace in Ethiopia despite the fact that H.E Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed welcoming out initiative to resolve the dispute in Ethiopia peacefully,” the official said.

“This make it very difficult for South Sudan and our regional partners to consolidate a peaceful solution to the conflict in northern Tigray and we are also happy with the Ethiopian government for heeding to our call for a peaceful solution and we also condemn the ongoing attack on the Ethiopian people by the TPLF,” she added.

For his part, Ethiopian Prime Minister confirming that he spoke to President Kiir and said they have agreed to work together on regional issues and also in consolidating peace in all aspect of life in the region.

“Ethiopia continues to prioritize strengthening relations with our neighboring countries,” Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed said in a tweet yesterday.

“I’ve held extensive phone discussions today with the leaders of Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea and South Sudan. We will continue working together on bilateral and regional issues,” he added.