South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir and his rival, Riek Machar have held a rare peace talk in Ethiopia.
The two meet on Wednesday for the first time since 2016 following the collapse of an earlier peace deal.
The Ethiopian prime minister’s chief of staff wrote on Twitter that “The PM Abiy Ahmed hosted a private dinner to President Salva Kiir & Dr Rieck Machar together.”
Fitsum Arega also said that “Faced with the continued suffering in South Sudan, Ethiopia simply can’t stand by. With more work, a peaceful future is possible.”
Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said Wednesday’s talks is to negotiate an end to the current civil war.
Riek Machar accepted the invitation from the Ethiopian Prime Minister for further talks with President Kiir after series of discussions.
Riek Machar fled South Sudan after falling out with his former boss, Salva Kiir. He is under house arrest in South Africa.
HE PM Abiy Ahmed hosted a private dinner to President Salva Kiir & Dr Rieck Machar together. The two met for the first time in two years. Faced with the continued suffering in #SouthSudan, #Ethiopia simply can’t stand by. With more work, a peaceful future is possible in S. Sudan. pic.twitter.com/SxqXr5eswD
— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) June 20, 2018
Regional bloc efforts
The peace talk, a move by the Ethiopian prime minister, has the support of the regional grouping IGAD.
Efforts are meant to mediate and get parties to seal a new deal. The plan is for the country to return to a power sharing agreement and ending the war.
Thousands of people have died in the 2013 civil war after troops loyal to the rebel Machar clashed with government troops.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 from north Sudan but fighting broke out two years later.
Source: Africafeeds.com
