South Sudan rebels downplay IGAD meeting over revitalization of peace deal

[Elisabeth Janaina]

South Sudan rebels downplay IGAD meeting over revitalization of peace deal


File photo: IGAD ministers of foreign affairs during a meeting in Juba
on July 24, 2017. (Radio Tamazuj)
File photo: IGAD ministers of foreign affairs during a meeting in Juba
on July 24, 2017. (Radio Tamazuj)

South Sudan's rebels on Tuesday criticized recent resolutions adopted
by East Africa's regional bloc on Monday in Juba to revitalize the
2015 peace deal.

Foreign ministers from the IGAD bloc agreed on Monday to empower the
IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan in close collaboration with the
Chairperson of JMEC to coordinate the revitalization process.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, a leading member of the opposition faction
allied to former first vice president Riek Machar, downplayed the
outcomes of the meeting saying the ongoing discussion on the
revitalization of the 2015 peace deal is a clear indication that the
peace agreement is over.

Manawa accused the IGAD council of ministers of giving legitimacy to
the current government in Juba, adding that the outcomes of the
meeting will not resolve the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.