The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has announced that it will convene an extraordinary virtual summit to address the escalating security situation in South Sudan. The summit is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and aims to find solutions to the ongoing violence and political instability that has been severely affecting the country.
This decision comes in the wake of intense fighting in the Nasir, Upper Nile State where clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army have resulted in significant casualties, including high-ranking SSPDF officers and several White Army leaders. The conflict has further destabilized the region, prompting widespread concern from both local and international communities.
In addition to the loss of life, the violence has led to the mass arrest of several politicians and senior officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), the political group led by former Vice President Riek Machar.
The South Sudanese government, led by President Salva Kiir, has accused the SPLM-IO of supporting the armed youth involved in the conflict, a claim that the opposition denies. These developments have sparked fears of a renewed breakdown in the fragile peace agreement established after the end of the civil war in 2018.
In a statement issued earlier, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, who currently serves as the Chair of IGAD, directed the organization’s secretariat to organize the emergency summit.
The summit will bring together the Heads of State from IGAD member countries to discuss the situation in South Sudan and explore ways to de-escalate the violence and address the political tensions that continue to threaten the country’s stability.
The IGAD summit will focus on finding diplomatic solutions to the political and military confrontations and will likely include discussions on strengthening the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years.
The international community, including the United Nations and the African Union, has expressed growing concern about the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan. The upcoming summit is seen as a critical opportunity for IGAD leaders to engage in dialogue and promote peacebuilding efforts that are crucial for the survival of the nation’s fragile peace process.
