Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers;

Honorable Ministers, Members of the Council;

IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan; 

Your Excellencies Ambassadors; 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

1.  I thank you very much for this opportunity to address the Council.

2.  I thank the Chairperson, IGAD Council of Ministers and Council members, for the leadership and dedication exhibited in the revitalisation process. The people of South Sudan, the region and indeed, the international community very much appreciate your efforts. 

3. I further commend H.E Dr. Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, for his unwavering commitment steering the HLRF process.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

4. Next month, on June 12th, we shall mark one year since the revitalization mandate was given. There is no doubt that significant grounds have been covered. 

5. For the first time since July 2016, all the warrying factions in South Sudan are around the table and pursuing dialogue to end their protracted conflict. 

6. This is a big milestone for which we must all appreciate the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government for their decision.

7.  Todate, we have a comprehensive Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitrain Access to which the parties recently recommitted themselves, and we are working closely with CTSAMM to ensure it’s fully implemented. We now have a CTSAMM Board fully reconstituted. 

8. Furthermore, the Parties have agreed on the mandate for the revitalized transitional government. They have agreed on a transitional period of 30 months to be preceeded by 120 days’ pre-transition period. 

9.  They have also agreed on a range of judicial and institutional reforms, on national elections, and some provisions on security arrangments which have all been initialed. This is commendable. 

10. However, as we have just heard from Dr. Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, there are a few areas of contention for which the parties have failed to make progress. 

11. This Council’s meeting today is therefore very timely and critical. The Council should reflect on the process so far, and determine how best to help the South Sudanese parties to overcome the current stalemate and to bring the HLRF to a successful conclusion. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

12. The people of South Sudan are yearning for peace now. They are tired of this senseless conflict and cannot afford endless talks without economic recovery and redress to the dire humanitarian situation.

13.  I therefore commend the Council for its leadership and decision to put to the Parties a very well considered and thoughtful Bridging Proposal to help them narrow the gaps and make progress towards an agreement.

14. I hope that our South Sudanese brothers and sisters will understand that this bridging proposal was developed upon their own request, and after every opportunity had been given to them to make compromises and reach some form of consensus. 

15. Ultimately, it is obvious that non of the parties may be celebrating because such is the nature of dialogue - no one party can get one hundred percent of what they want in a negotiation. 

16. Perhaps this is even the more reason to take this bridging proposal as the middle ground in the parties current negotiating positions.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

17.  In conclusion, I continue to appeal to the Council to remain resolute, speak with one voice, and to prevail over the intransigent parties to make compromises and accommodate one another. 

18.  I reiterate my concern over the persistent violations of the Cesssation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), signed on 21stDecember 2017 by some of the parties with total impunity, and I urge the Council to take necessary steps to hold spoilers accountable.

19.  Finally, I thank all JMEC members, our regional and international partners and friends of South Sudan, for their continued support and commitement to the restoration of peace in South Sudan.

Thank you.