ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 29, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has welcomed the arrival, in Juba, on Thursday 24 March 2016, of the twenty-two senior officials of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) to take part in the joint security arrangements for the capital city of South Sudan. This is an encouraging step towards facilitating the return of First Vice President-designate, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, as well as the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in accordance with the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan signed in August 2015.
The Chairperson notes, with great appreciation, the cordial manner in which the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) received the SPLM/A-IO officials upon their arrival in Juba. She wishes to underscore that this development is a necessary confidence building measure, which should serve as a stepping stone towards returning South Sudan to a period characterized by reconciliation, peace, stability and development.
The Chairperson reaffirms the AU Commission’s unwavering support in fulfilling the remaining steps in the phased arrival in Juba of the SPLM-IO protection forces, as agreed within the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) mechanism. In this regard, the Chairperson applauds former President Festus Mogae, Chairperson of the JMEC, and the JMEC secretariat, for their facilitation of the implementation protocols in the 2015 Peace Agreement. She further commends the international partners for their continued support to the implementation of the South Sudan peace process.
