IGAD Postpones the Next HLRF Phase II for South Sudan

26-04-2018, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): On 25^th April 2018, the Office of the Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers met with IGAD Ambassadors in Addis Ababa and after deliberation and assessing the positions of the Parties decided to postpone the convening of Phase II of the High-level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) process for South Sudan.

The Office together with the Ambassadors group deliberated on the outcomes of the shuttle diplomacy meetings held with South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), South Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Civil Society Groups and other stakeholders and has agreed that there still exist wide gaps between the different groups that need to be narrowed.

It is based on this that the office of the Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers decided to postpone the next HLRF Phase II to allow continuation of shuttle diplomacy meetings with the Parties to the South Sudan conflict in order to have a meaningful outcome of the mediation.

The office of the Chairperson gave the dates of the next session of the HLRF: 17^th May– 21^st May of 2018.

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