Award-winning activist welcomes Sudanese-IGAD pledge for support

JUBA – South Sudan’s award-winning activist Edmund Yakani has welcomed the pledge of support to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement by President of Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Speaking during the graduation of the unified forces in Juba on Tuesday, Al Burhan who is also the chairperson of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) which mediated the revitalized peace agreement said his country will continue to support the parties for genuine implementation of the agreement.

“We stand with the people of South Sudan in which situation you face, we stand side by side in the quest and in our efforts to have peace and stability between our people,” the Sudanese military leader said.

“This is our conviction as we all stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the region to make our contribution to making peace, promote economically and establishing strong relations for the benefits of our people,” al Burhan added.

In a statement, Yakani who is also the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the remarks by the Sudanese leader and described it as encouraging and motivational.

“CEPO welcomes the statement of the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdel Fathah Al-Burhan pledging continued support for South Sudan peace process. This is encouraging and motivational since Sudan is the sitting chair of IGAD,” the activist said.

Yakani who this month won a continental award for peace activism said he is impressed by the pledges from the Sudanese leader and said he would invest his time in following up the continued Sudanese engagement with the parties in South Sudan.

“It is impressive that Sudan’s president is demonstrating commitment to support the peace process in South Sudan. We are interested to follow the pledge for support of the peace agreement implementation since we Sudan is chair of IGAD chair,” he said.

“Sudan as chair of IGAD should increase its role in making the implementation of the R-ARCSS genuine. South Sudan leaders require continuous pressure from IGAD’s leadership,” Yakani stressed, adding that “the IGAD leadership should conduct brainstorming sessions on the next key milestones in the adopted roadmap.”