South Sudan: Regional leaders intervene to resolve conflict

South Sudan’s government has committed to an immediate ceasefire, the country’s regional neighbors said on Friday, as they urged opposition, (now rebel) leader Riek Machar to make the same commitment.

Regional heads of state who attended a meeting of east African body Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Kenyan capital Nairobi, said they want all the warring parties in South Sudan to meet for talks by December 31.

“IGAD welcomes the commitment by the government of Republic of South Sudan to an immediate cessation of hostilities and calls upon Dr Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments,” a communiqué from the 23rd Extraordinary Session of IGAD said.

The release of political prisoners and a coalition arrangement are some of the key issues that are to be discussed to help stem the conflict in South Sudan.

According to a source close to the IGAD meeting, regional leaders are considering power sharing as one of the options to help end the chaos in Africa’s youngest nation.

“There is a strong desire to end the conflict and leaders have seen this is a political problem which can be solved if everyone is brought on board,” said a source who requested to remain anonymous but who is privy to the meeting indicated.

Regional leaders under the banner IGAD have converged in Nairobi to push forward their search for a solution to the South Sudan problem which has seen scores hundreds of foreigners flee and thousands of South Sudanese seek refuge in UN camps.