East African Community (EAC) foreign ministers have urged warring parties in South Sudan to reach a speedy political solution to the country’s crisis.The ministers were meeting under the bloc’s 12th session of the sectoral Council on foreign policy coordination, in Nairobi, Kenya last Friday.Jacqueline Muhongayire, Rwanda’s Minister for EAC affairs, represented the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, at the meeting.The ministers regretted the widespread atrocities, deaths and displacement of civilian population; and expressed solidarity with the people of South Sudan.The meeting also called upon humanitarian actors to provide the necessary assistance to all civilians and urged the government of South Sudan and armed groups to open humanitarian corridors.“Everyone is touched by what is going on in South Sudan. The appeal was to have a plan to help the people of South Sudan. A solution to the conflict must be found, and we encourage the parties to the conflict to use the IGAD process to resolve their differences,” Muhongayire told The New Times.“The meeting expressed solidarity with the people of South Sudan in their distress.” South Sudanese government forces backed by Ugandan troops on Saturday reportedly recaptured the strategic town of Bor, following days of fierce fighting.The ministers expressed concern at the violent events taking place in South Sudan, including the escalation of the conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation, Muhongayire said.The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation team in Addis Ababa on Friday handed over a final draft agreement on the cessation of hostilities to the two sides.President Salva Kiir on Saturday accepted a cessation of hostilities agreement with the rebels.The terms of the draft deal, which the two sides immediately accepted, include cessation of hostilities and paving way for further negotiations on how to resolve the conflict.The EAC ministers reaffirmed the commitment of the Community partner states “to assist in the pursuit of a speedy political solution to the crisis.”The meeting was chaired by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amb. Amina C. Mohamed, the chairperson of the Sectoral Council on Foreign Policy Coordination.South Sudan’s latest troubles started mid last month following what President Kiir said was a coup attempt by his former deputy-turned-foe Riek Machar, who is now leading a rebellion that is threatening to wreck the young nation if not stopped.More than 1,500 people have lost their lives, while thousands are reported to be displaced by the conflict.At least 78,000 South Sudanese have crossed into neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya in the aftermath of conflict in the new nation, according to the United Nations.Regional foreign policy interestsMeanwhile, the ministers also discussed other matters of regional foreign policy interests such as the ratification of the protocol on foreign policy. All partner states were given up to January 31, to make their inputs on what critical areas the bloc must have a common position on, according to Muhongayire.Such issues will again be examined by other ministerial level meetings before they are blessed during the EAC heads of state summit scheduled for April.“The main issue was to adopt a report by permanent secretaries of the EAC in their meeting last year, for a common position on foreign policy matters of the EAC,” Muhongayire said.
