IGAD leaders discussing end to Riek Machar's forced detention: official

[Elisabeth Janaina]

IGAD leaders discussing end to Riek Machar's forced detention: official
File photo: Riek Machar
File photo: Riek Machar

East African leaders are discussing the possibility of facilitating an
end to Riek Machar’s forced confinement in South Africa, a top
Sudanese diplomat said.

South Sudan’s former First Vice President is being held in South
Africa to prevent him from going back to South Sudan.

The decision was reportedly reached by IGAD countries in order to keep
him away in the hope of preventing fighting in South Sudan.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said at a joint press
conference with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in Khartoum yesterday that
the East African regional bloc IGAD is now discussing the forced
detention of South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar.

Ghandour said in response to a question asked by Al-Tayyar newspaper
that all stakeholders in South Sudan should be engaged in the
revitalization process for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in
the world’s youngest nation.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Haile Mariam Desalgen said the peace
process in South Sudan does not require a new peace deal. He
reiterated his commitment to find amicable solutions to the ongoing
conflict in South Sudan.

“If they (South Sudan leaders) do not commit themselves to peace,
their country will disintegrate,” he said.