Foreign Minister meets RJMEC chair, German envoy over country, regional peace

Minister Morgan discusses peace agreement with RJMEC chair Amb. Maj. Gen. (Retired) George Aggrey Owino, condoles former commission leader as he engages the German envoy over Sudan peace in a separate meeting

By The City Review

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Dr. James Pittia Morgan, held a series of high-level diplomatic meetings at his office in Juba, the capital. These meetings included discussions on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and regional developments, particularly the current crisis in Sudan.

Minister Morgan received Amb. Maj. Gen. (Retired) George Aggrey Owino, the interim chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). During the meeting, Ambassador Owino provided a comprehensive briefing on his meetings with parties involved in the peace process, highlighting key achievements and remaining challenges. He also expressed his appreciation for the ongoing coordination between the Commission and the Ministry.

For his part, Minister Morgan thanked the Committee Chair for the briefing and expressed his deep sorrow and condolences on the passing of the Committee’s former Chair and former President of the Republic of Botswana, the late Festus Gontebene Mogae. He praised Mogae’s historic and prominent role in supporting and laying the foundations for the peacebuilding and reconciliation process in South Sudan, and offered his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and his colleagues in the diplomatic corps.

Separately, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held an official meeting with His Excellency Ambassador David Schwacke, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Sudan (resident in Addis Ababa). Discussions focused on developments in the ongoing conflict in Sudan and its direct repercussions on regional stability.

During the meeting, Ambassador Morgan affirmed South Sudan’s unwavering support for peace and stability in Sudan, emphasizing the need to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Minister reiterated President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the Sudanese parties to embrace peaceful dialogue, affirming Juba’s readiness to support all regional and international efforts aimed at ending the crisis. Domestically, the minister briefed the German diplomat on the ongoing steps to implement the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement and the government’s commitment to fulfilling the transitional phase requirements leading up to the general elections. The meeting also addressed the health situation in the region; Minister Morgan reassured the public that South Sudan remains completely free of Ebola, explaining that the current health measures at entry points are merely precautionary and preventative steps to protect the country.

For his part, the German Chargé d’Affaires, David Schwak, commended the pivotal and constructive role played by the South Sudanese government in promoting peace efforts and regional cooperation amidst the complex circumstances facing the region.