(Khartoum – August 30, 2018) The IGAD High-level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) for South Sudan has registered another milestone with the parties initialing the text of the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). The initialing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Al-Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan and Amb. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan. Mediation team from Kenya and Ethiopia as well as representatives from the international partners were also present.
The IGAD Special Envoy, Amb. Ismail Wais, welcomes the initialing of the agreement and congratulates the parties for signing the agreement. “This is step in the right direction to help the reconciliation and rebuilding of South Sudan,” he said. He called on the parties to demonstrate their commitment to start implementing the revitalized ARCSS as a matter of priority and to prepare for the upcoming IGAD Summit.
The High-level Revitalization Forum was established after the decision of the 31st Session of IGAD Heads of State and Government for the parties of the ARCSS including the estranged groups to discuss concrete measures, restore permanent ceasefire, to full implementation of the Peace Agreement, and to develop a revised and realistic timeline and implementation schedule towards democratic election at the end of the transitional period.