IGAD foreign ministers to convene tomorrow over SPLA-IO infighting

JUBA — Foreign ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are meeting tomorrow to discuss the alarming situation inside South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

The call for a meeting comes a day after rival factions within the SPLM-IO clashed at Magenis, a northern-most town located near the Sudanese border, after a group of military leaders led by SPLA-IO military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual removed Machar as leader of the group.

In a statement, Mariam Sadig al Mahdi, the Sudanese foreign minister and chair of IGAD Council of Ministers said an emergency meeting of all IGAD member-states will take place on Monday, August 9, 2021, to discuss the SPLM-IO developments.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan and Chairperson of the IGAD Counci of Ministers, Dr. Mariam Alsadig Almahdi, hereby calls for a siting of an Emergency extra-ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on Monday 9th August 2021 from 11:00am East Áfrican Time (10:00am Khartoum) virtualy via the ZOOM platform,” the statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.

“The agenda for of this Emergency Council Meeting will be to discuss the current political situation in South Sudan that requires the urgent attentian of the Council.”