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Highlights of the Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD in Ethiopia

Storyline:National News

 

IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held the 31st Extra-Ordinary Summit on 12th June 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia following an appeal by its current chairperson Hailemariam Dessalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on the unfolding humanitarian and security situation in South Sudan.

“The continued armed conflict and the difficulties being faced in transporting the humanitarian supplies to the needy population are matters that IGAD Member States view with extreme concern” said IGAD statement

Extra-Ordinary Summit has been convened in light of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan but it is also expected to do follow-up on commitments by the Heads of States and Governments of the bloc during the March Extra-Ordinary Summit in Nairobi.

The summit was attended by H.E. Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan; H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; H.E. Taban Deng Gai, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E. Hassan Ali Khaire, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti; and H.E. Amina Chawahir Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya.

Following Submission of the report by the Chairperson of JMEC (Joint Monitoring & Evaluation Commission) and small briefings from the invited representative and subsequent deliberation on the humanitarian, political and security situation in South Sudan, the Head of State and Government of IGAD issued a communiqué among them:-

  1. Peace and stability in South Sudan can achieved mainly using full implementation of ARCSS.
  2. IGAD welcomes the launching of a national dialogue by President Slva Kir and urged TGoUN to make the process all inclusive genuine and transparent.
  3. IGAD welcomes too the recent declaration of Presdient Slava Kir of a unilateral ceasefire.
  4. IGAD condemns strongly the violence and armed conflict that continues in South Sudan targeting defenseless civilians.
  5. It emphasizes all armed groups in South Sudan to share full responsibility on the humanitarian crisis and human right violations in the country. IGAD to collaborate with UN to held accountable individuals or groups causing humanitarian crisis.
  6. Expressed concern on the obstacles facing humanitarian agencies including killing of its personnel and blocking assistance to the affected people.
  7. Recognizes all international efforts by the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the war and famine affected people in South Sudan as well as neigbouring countries hosting large number of refugees from South Sudan.
  8. Appointed Dr. Mohamed Ali Guyo as the IGAD Special Envoy for Somalia.
  9. Appointed Ambassador Ismali Wais as the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan.

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government is the supreme policy making organ of IGAD. It determines the objectives, guidelines and programs for IGAD and meets once a year though this particular meeting was a special one called by its current chairperson Hailemariam Dessalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for South Sudan political and humanitarian crisis.

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