The IGAD
Special Envoy for South Sudan has instructed the Secretariat
to convene the 43rd Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Assembly Heads
of State and Government on the situation in South Sudan.
“The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) presents its compliments to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of IGAD Member States and has the honor to inform the latter that H.E. Ismael Omar Guelleh, the President of the Republic of Djibouti and Chair of IGAD, has instructed the Secretariat to convene the 43rd Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government about the situation in South Sudan,” says Amb. Ismail Wais in a statement.
According to
the secretariat, the meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday at 11:00 AM.
Many observers
have expressed fears after clashes erupted in Nasir County, Upper Nile State,
earlier last week.
Several people
were killed, including army commander Gen. David Majur Dak and air force pilot
Capt. Jima Reng, and a peacekeeper.
In addition,
the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan last week said the surge in
violence in Upper Nile State, escalating political tensions in Juba, and other
political intrigues are threatening to derail South Sudan’s Revitalized Peace
Agreement and inflict more pain and suffering on citizens.
According to
the commission, the armed confrontations in Nasir, including the criminal
attack on a UN aircraft, which resulted in tragic fatalities, including the
death of UN personnel, must be condemned and are considered a war crime.
