South Sudan President Salva Kiir called Wednesday for a “national dialogue” to end the three-year-long civil war in the country.
In a speech to parliament, Kiir, whose wrangling for power with his former deputy Riek Machar plunged the world’s newest nation into a brutal, destructive and ongoing civil war in December 2013, said the dialogue would “consolidate peace” in South Sudan.
Kiir said a panel of “eminent personalities and people of consensus” would guide the national dialogue which would involve “all the people of South Sudan” but did not say who the panel members would be.
The ambitious aims of the initiative, he said, are to “save the country from disintegration and usher in a new era of peace, stability and prosperity.”
“As long as I am your president, I will not allow the suffering of our people to continue and I will not also allow this country to fall apart,” Kiir said.
Kiir’s troops and allied militia have been accused of ethnic massacres, looting, pillage and the forced recruitment of child soldiers. Rebels have perpetrated similar crimes.
In recent weeks fresh ethnic killings in and around the southern town of Yei have triggered genocide warnings from the UN.
In his speech Kiir asked forgiveness “for any mistakes I might have committed” but did not specify what they might be.
Nevertheless, Kiir issued a directive to both government and rebel forces “to immediately cease hostilities, protect their fellow citizens and prepare the ground for a more peaceful, secure and joyous Christmas and New Year.”
Source: AFP
