Kiir, Machar to meet to discuss de-escalation, says Peter Lam Both  

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny will next week meet at the state-house J1 to discuss de-escalation of tensions have been taking place across the country since beginning of the year, SPLM Secretary General Peter Lam Both said Tuesday.

This comes after the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Machar withdrew from security mechanisms over escalatory attacks by South Sudan People’s Defense Forces on several positions of the SPLA-IO in Unity and Upper Nile states.

This afternoon, Lam met First Vice President Machar to convey to him message from President Salva Kiir Mayardit regarding the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement the two men signed in September 2018 to end the deadly conflict that has killed at least half a million people.

In statements to reporters following the meeting with Machar, Lam said Kiir was working hard to make sure that the grievances raised by the Machar-led main armed opposition group are addressed so that the implementation of the peace agreement continues smoothly.

“The president is working to ensure the SPLM/SPLA (IO) concerns that led them to withdraw their members from the peace implementation bodies are addressed to enable them return and continue discharging their duties to pave way for the graduation of the necessary unified forces,” Lam told reporters.

The senior SPLM official said “the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny echoed the President message of full commitment to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and assures the public that that country will never return to war.”

Lam further said a meeting between President Kiir and Machar “will take place when the team led by Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs Hon. Tut Gatluak comes back from Khartoum where they have gone to consult with the Current Chair of IGAD.”