The East African Legislative Assembly is calling for cessation to hostilities and the immediate return to normalcy in South Sudan. In the regard, Speaker of EALA Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa has hailed as progressive, the ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday by the parties. Rt. Hon Zziwa was speaking this afternoon when she met with the Speaker of the South Sudan National Assembly, Rt Hon Manasseh Magok Rundial, at the Parliament of Uganda.
In attendance were Parliamentarians from the South Sudan National Assembly, Hon Tulio Odongi, Hon David Akway Gora, Hon Dengtiel Kuur, Amb Mayen Majak Malou and Mathew Henry Majuok.
Rt. Hon Zziwa noted that reconciliation was the next logical step in the dispensation and remarked that it presented an opportunity for South Sudan to permanently restore stability. She said that the EAC was still looking forward to receiving the country into its fold.
“Only this week, the Council of Ministers assured us that an appropriate time, the Verification Team appointed to commence work shall begin with the exercise. We are hopeful that this shall take place soon” Speaker Zziwa maintained.
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Juba, Rt. Hon Manaseh Magak Rundial informed the EALA Speaker of the prevailing situation in South Sudan. He noted that the ceasefire agreement would open up space for further negotiations. He remarked that prior to the Addis agreement, in spite of the government having accepted the peace initiative being brokered by IGAD countries in the region, the rebels continued to put up difficult demands and conditions as the process went on.
The Speaker hailed the cordial relations between EALA and the Parliament of South Sudan. He called for enhanced Parliamentary exchange visits between the two institutions.
“I take the opportunity to invite you to visit us in Juba at a time that is convenient with you or that we can agree upon,” Rt. Hon Rundial remarked.
Violence erupted in South Sudan a month ago. Under the agreement, signed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, both sides in the conflict promised to lay down their arms. It also suggests that a formal peace agreement is necessary and that negotiations would have to continue. Fighting was expected to end immediately, 24 hours after the ceasefire deal.
“We promise total co-operation in the monitoring and verification mechanism that we urge the special envoys to quickly set in motion,” Hon Nhial Deng Nhial, the head of the South Sudanese government delegation to the talks was quoted as saying in various sections of the media.
Ends
For more information, contact:
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer,
East African Legislative Assembly,
Tel: Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036.
Email: Bodiko@eachq.org
