What is the IGAD-Led Mediation for South Sudan?
The IGAD-led Mediation Process for South Sudan was set up by IGAD Member States in response to the ongoing crisis in the country. The crisis was triggered by the events of 15thDecember 2013 in Juba that subsequently spread to other parts of the country.
What is the mission and vision of the Mediation?
The mission of the mediation is to support all Parties to achieve a sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive peace in South Sudan.
The vision of the mediation is to assist South Sudan in introducing and implementing a new political dispensation based on constitutional principles of governance that enjoys legitimacy and broad support from the people of South Sudan.
Who leads the Mediation?
The 23rd Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government that convened in Nairobi on 27th December 2013 appointed three Special Envoys: Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin of Ethiopia, General Lazaro Sumbeiywo of Kenya and General Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi of Sudan to lead the mediation process. The Special Envoys are assisted by a team of political and technical advisors that are based in a secretariat in Addis Ababa.
Who supports the Mediation?
The Mediation receives political, technical and financial support from IGAD Member States, the IGAD Secretariat, the African Union and the United Nations, as well as a broad-based support from other development partners. These include but are not limited to Australia, China Denmark, the European Union (EU), IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, the Troika (Norway, UK and USA) and Turkey.
Who are the Parties to the Mediation?
The Mediation involves all stakeholders in South Sudan, including the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS), the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/ Army in Opposition (SPLM/A in Opposition), SPLM Leaders (former detainees), as well as representatives of political parties, civil society and faith-based organizations.
What progress has been made?
The key achievements so far include the signing of Agreements on the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) and the Status of Detainees on 23 January 2014 in Addis Ababa. Under the CoH Agreement, a Monitoring and Verification Mechanism has been established with a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) in Juba and Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) in several field sites to ensure the ceasefire holds and humanitarian corridors remain open.
Another notable achievement is the Agreement to Resolve the Crisis signed by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) and Dr. Riek Machar, Former Vice President of the RSS and leader of SPLM/A – In Opposition, on 9 May in Addis Ababa. The agreement committed the two Parties to find a political solution to the crisis through a broad-based, inclusive dialogue.
Which countries are contributing observers/monitors to the MVT and troops to the Protection Force (PF)?
Personnel of the JTC and Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) are drawn mostly from IGAD Member States and representatives of development partners. IGAD Member States and other East African countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda) are expected to contribute troops to Protection Force that is been mandated by the IGAD Heads of State and Government to protect the IGAD MVTs. ###
For further information contact: The Office of the Special Envoys for South Sudan through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.