Mediator in South Sudan still optimistic for ceasefire
Issued on:
Play - 04:42
The Intergovernmental Authority Development's (IGAD) mediation team to South Sudan concluded its two day mission to Juba on Wednesday, during which they met with South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit. During the visit, President Kiir reaffirmed his full support for a political solution in the country and his government's commitment to unconditional negotiations on the cessation of hostilities to bring an end to the violence in his country. The IGAD envoys also met 11 detained politicians arrested when violence broke out last month in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. The detainees expressed their support for the talks and said that their status as detainees should not be an impediment to reaching an agreement on and end to the violence. Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Executive Secretary, comments.