The IGAD Heads of State and Government held its 33th Extra-ordinary session at the UNECA in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, September 12.
During the session South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir signed a peace deal with the main rebel leader Riek Machar, formally ending a five-year war that has killed tens of thousands.
The deal mediated by Sudan and signed in Addis Ababa, reinstated Machar in his former role as vice president and comes two weeks after a peace deal was officially agreed upon between the government and rebel groups.
“The eyes of the world are upon us as the South Sudan leaders commit to press for reconciliation and lasting peace in their country,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said ahead of the signing.
Prime Minister Abiy who is the Chairperson of IGAD also said it had been convened after Ethiopia and Eritrea, Eritrea and Djibouti, and Sudan and Eritrea had been reconciled and started the processes of normalization and rapprochement.
The IGAD Heads of State and Government also restored Eritrea’s IGAD membership that was suspended since 2007.