Great Lakes Regional Summit To Discuss South Sudan Crisis
The 5th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is taking place in Luanda, Angola, with South Sudan crisis being top on the agenda, an official said Tuesday.
Regional Heads of State attend the 5th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Luanda, Angola. [PSCU]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 14 January 2014 [Gurtong] - The summit taking place in the Angolan Capital of Luanda with South Sudan crisis being one of the top issues on the agenda, Amb. Mayen Makol, the spokesman in the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.
The summit, whose theme states, 'Let's promote peace, security, stability and development in the Great Lakes Region', aims to lay the agenda on the fight against terrorism in the region and implementation of the pact on peace, security, stability and development in the Great Lakes.
Mayen said that the South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin has led the South Sudan delegation to the summit and is currently in Luanda.
“It [summit] is going to be on security and governance among the countries of the Great Lakes region and it is also going to discuss the current situation of South Sudan,” Mayen said in an interview.
South Sudan over two years still since gained independence in 2011 is plunged into a political turmoil mid last month with the situation now threatening the peace stability in the region.
According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), over 1,000 people have so far been killed and close to more 400,000 others are displaced.
The summit will take two days, Mayen said.
Fighting terrorism in the region and implementation of the pact on peace, security, stability, and development in the Great Lakes region is on top of agenda according to officials.