STATEMENT BY H.E.

PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA, CGH, RAPPOTEUR OF

IGAD AND CHAIRMAN OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, ON THE SIGNING
OF A PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOUTH SUDAN PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR
AND DR. RIEK MACHAR
I take this early opportunity to congratulate the President of the Republic of South
Sudan, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and r Riek Machar for holding face!to!
face talks today and signing the peace agree"ent.
I do this on behalf of the #overn"ent and the people of Kenya as $ell as the East
%frican &o""unity. 'hese talks $ere held $ithin the conte(t of, and chaired by the
chair"an of I#%, H.E. Pri"e Minister Haile"aria" esalegn of Ethiopia. )e are
very pleased by the progress so far and look for$ard to a co"plete cessation of
hostilities and an I#% su""it in the near future.
Recently, I e(pressed our region*s disappoint"ent at $hat the leaders of South
Sudan $ere allo$ing their country to beco"e, a country torn by con+ict and I vo$ed
that the region $ould not stand by and $atch anarchy and death beco"e nor"al
occurrences in South Sudan. 'oday*s events sho$ that the region is co""itted to
facilitating the return of peace and stability in an i"portant neighbour and friend.
'he "eeting in %ddis %baba and its outco"e are a further step for$ard in a process
that began on the ,-
th
of ece"ber ./,0. 'he release of all ,, political detainees,
including the last four, by H.E. the President of South Sudan, for $hich $e have
e(pressed our gratitude, have paved the $ay for the breakthrough that $e see
today.
)e e(pect the signing of today*s agree"ent to lead to a 1uick i"ple"entation of
the &essation of Hostilities agree"ent that $as signed in 2anuary this year. )e look
for$ard to the ne(t su""it $hich $e hope $ill further solidify today*s gains.
)e also e(pect today*s agree"ent to lead to the opening up of hu"anitarian
corridors for the delivery of assistance to those in need.
)e also $elco"e the agree"ent by the Parties to fully cooperate $ith the %frican
3nion &o""ission of In1uiry and pledge to abide by its reco""endations because
it is i"portant that those responsible for co""itting any atrocities 4 regardless of
the political divide 4 take full responsibility and are held accountable for their
actions.
His E(cellency 3huru Kenyatta
President of the Republic of Kenya
- May ./,5