“The fight is heavy, I pulled out to come and consult you,” Kiir tells citizens

February 12, 2020 Newsbeat

President Salva Kiir Mayardit during the recent summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government overnment (Photo: File)

February 12, 2020 (SSNN)—South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has admitted that peace talks aimed at resolving the issue of the number of states and their boundaries hit a dead end in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

“ The fight is heavy, I pulled out to come and consult you,” President Kiir tells citizens upon arrival at Juba International Airport.

On Sunday, the IGAD Council of Ministers had a meeting on the sidelines of the Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government which was held on 8th to 9th February, 2020, in Ethiopia. During the meeting, the IGAD Council of Ministers proposed that the number of states will be reduced to 23 or 10 states, a move bitterly protested by government officials.

After the government rejected the proposal, the regional body agreed and requested the government delegations to return to Juba, and consult with their citizens on this issue, and to report the results of their consultations before the establishment of the R-TGoNU on February 22, 2020.

The Summit of the Heads of States and Government acknowledged the positive progress made in the implementation of security arrangements, noting that the first batch of the Unified VIP Protection Force and Unified forces are ready for graduation before the formation of the unity government.