The IGAD Council of ministers met and discussed today in Pretoria with Dr Rieck Machar, Chair of SPLM/IO on moving forward the South Sudanese Peace process.
The council members led by Ms Hirut Zemene, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia was composed of State ministers of Somalia Abdulqadir, Kenya Ababu Namwamba, and the Sudan Mohammed
Idris.
The group also discussed, in the spirit of the Council communique of 26 March, on the possibilities of moving Dr Machar out of South Africa to the country of his preference.
The meeting is part of the Shuttle diplomacy by the IGAD council to bridge the gap between the parties to the peace forum -HLRF. The HLRF will reopen on May 17, 2018, in Addis Ababa. It is to be recalled that the Council members also went to Juba recently to conduct similar exchanges with the government of S Sudan.
The delegation was warmly received by the S African foreign ministry and held a cordial and fruitful discussion with Deputy Minister Reginah Mahule of the Ministry of International Relation and Cooperation of South Africa on the IGAD led South Sudan peace process.
On the occasion, the State ministers of Ethiopia and South Africa exchanged brief views on possibilities of holding JOINT MINISTERIAL commission at a suitable time for both sides.
