October 7th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – A joint delegation of the African Union and the United Nations is expected in the capital Juba this Sunday to conduct a field assessment to the Permanent Ceasefire Agreement signed in June 2018 by President Salva Kiir Mayardiit and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
In June this year, President Salva Kiir Mayardiit, opposition and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon signed a permanent ceasefire agreement in Khartoum under the auspices of the Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir as part of IGAD efforts to consolidate peace in the young African nation.
The top-notch delegation will include the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Ismail Chergui, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Co-chair of the AU Fem-Wise, Ms Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, and the Executive Director for UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The visit will aim at monitoring and assessing the implementation of the June ceasefire and the December 12 revitalized peace agreement signed in Addis Ababa by Kiir and Machar along with other opposition groups.
The high-level delegation, according to a statement, will be meeting with senior officials in the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan but it is not clear whether similar meetings will take place with the members of the main armed opposition led by former vice president Dr. Riek Machar.
“The joint visit will provide an opportunity for the delegation to commend the South Sudanese stakeholders for signing the peace agreement on 12 September 2018 and encourage them to faithfully implement it,” they said in a statement.
The mission will also enable the joint UN-AU diplomats to shore up the implementation of the revitalized agreement on the resolution of conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and encourage the parties to the conflict in the country to respect the provisions and terms of the agreement.
“More specifically, the visit will focus on tangible actions and re-emphasize the significance of elevating, safeguarding and ensuring women’s meaningful participation and leadership in the implementation of the Agreement,” the statement added.
The delegation will visit Juba, Bentiu and will meet women leaders and civil society organizations including those in the United Nations Protection of civilian camps in both towns.
“The delegation will meet with women leaders and organizations in Juba and Bentiu, including from the Protection of Civilian sites,” they said in a statement.
