Faith-based groups and civil society organizations urged the AU Panel of Wise to engage in the release of the political detainees and the lifting of the house arrest of the First Vice President

By James Chatim

The faith-based groups and civil society organizations have urged the African Union Panel of Wise to facilitate the urgent lifting of house arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

This came following a meeting with the team in Juba on Thursday.

In a statement issued to the media, Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the discussions focused on the de-escalation of the recent outbreak of deadly conflict in the country.

He added that the meeting also called for an urgent ceasefire and recommitment of the parties to the cessation of hostility agreement and security arrangement agreement signed in 2018.

The stakeholders urged the AU Panel of Wise to engage in the release of the political detainees and the lifting of the house arrest of the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.

“We, the stakeholders, composed of faith-based groups, civil society organizations, youth-led organizations, women-led organizations and representatives of persons with disabilities, yesterday met with the AU Panel of Wise. Our discussion was focused on the agenda of de-escalating the recent breakout of the deadly violence and forging a way forward for handling the political disagreements among our political leaders in the incumbent government of national unity,” Yakani explained.

The activist said they have also discussed the matters of the security arrangement since they believe that without proper security arrangement, this situation will continue.

The faith-based group and civil society urged the AU Panel of Wise to facilitate a direct talk with President Salav Kiir and FVP Dr. Riek Machar.

Yakani said there is a need for an African Union instrument of AUC5, composed of South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Chad, and Algeria, to help South Sudanese parties in implementing the pending task of the R-ARCSS.

According to him, in the context of the current security situation in the country, they have seen a high deficit of trust among the leaders.

“We have also discussed with the AU Panel of Wise that there is a need for AU to appoint an AU high representative to the Republic of South Sudan to fill the seat that by then was occupied by Alpha Konare, which have helped in nurturing trust and confidence among our leaders,” Yakani stated.

Meanwhile, Ter Manyang Gatwech, the executive director of Center for Peace and Advocacy, said in a released statement that the AU Panel of Wise was prevented from meeting Dr. Machar with the excuse that there is no investigation committee formed by the government.

He said the if the AU Panel of Wise forwarded the case of South Sudan to UN Security Council the outcome would be not favourable for the country.

“We have also discussed with the AU Panel of Wise that there is a need for AU to appoint an AU high representative to the Republic of South Sudan to fill the seat,” Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO, said.