President Kenyatta in South Sudan for peace deal

President Uhuru Kenyatta has travelled to Juba, South Sudan for a one-day official visit to attend an IGAD mini-summit on the peace process in the world’s youngest nation.

President Kenyatta, who is the IGAD Rapporteur, will be joined in the summit by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister and IGAD chairperson Hailemariam Desalegn, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Sudan’s Omar Al-Bashir.

IGAD has been mediating talks to end the 20-month long civil war between Kiir’s government and a faction led by the rebel leader Riek Machar.

Rebel leader Riek Machar signed the IGAD plus compromise peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday last week.

President Salva Kiir, who requested for a 15 day window to iron out outstanding issues, is expected to append his signature on the peace pact during the Juba summit.

The plane carrying the President and his delegation departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 9.00AM and was seen off by the Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Samson Mwathethe and senior government officials.

By PSCU