South Sudan's main opposition leader Riek Machar (R, front) and his wife arrive before the country's peace day celebration at Juba International Airport in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Oct. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Daniel Majack)
JUBA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar on Wednesday commended efforts of various African leaders for reviving the peace process in the wake of the renewed July violence in 2016.
Machar, who leads the main rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), lauded President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for helping the warring parties reach compromises that ushered in the final peace deal in Ethiopia.
"We thank President al-Bashir for doing the most difficult task of persuading the parties to reach compromises in the midst of great suspicion and skepticism among the regional and international actors and more worse among us the warring parties," Machar told peace celebrations in Juba attended by African leaders and diplomats.
He said Khartoum has become a hub for peacemaking and thanked President al-Bashir on proving the skeptics wrong.
The Sudanese leader mediated the peace process under the auspices of the east African bloc the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which saw South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Machar meet face-to-face after the 2015 peace deal was weakened.
Machar, who fled the capital following renewed violence in 2016, had been exiled to South Africa.
"I would like to thank in person Abiy Ahmed Ali, prime minister of Ethiopia, for taking the courageous decision of extracting me from that confinement to engage in face-to-face meeting with my brother President Salva Kiir in order for us to end the impasse," said Machar.
He also commended the IGAD leaders for delegating and mandating president al-Bashir to mediate the crises and take the lead in the process on behalf of the bloc, which led to the signing of Khartoum peace declaration and subsequent agreement.
Machar thanked Kenyatta for supporting the Khartoum peace process after it gained momentum under President al-Bashir's mediation.
"We want to thank you again that you have helped us to bring peace to our country. We also want to thank your competent mediation team led by your foreign minister, Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, for the hard work and tremendous effort to pull former warring parties together to cross the finishing line," he said.
Machar said Museveni fully backed the peace process and several meetings occurred at Uganda's State House in Entebbe, where a number of compromises were made.
He also extended thanks to countries and organizations including the European Union, IGAD partner forums and China.
David Shearer, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), paid tribute to regional leaders, specifically the leaders of Sudan and Uganda for the crucial roles they played in securing the agreement and who continue to champion its full implementation.
"Some clashes still persist in parts of the country, but overall levels of fighting have reduced. Very simply, that reduction has meant that fewer have died, more humanitarian goods have flowed to those who need them and, people once again can start planning for their own future," said Shearer.
There is still much hard work ahead to ensure that the revitalized peace agreement is fully implemented, he said.
Shearer urged the South Sudan leaders to embrace trust, the key ingredient for peace implementation.
"Let me assure you, the United Nations is absolutely committed to working with you all as a partner," he said.
"We will stand alongside the parties as they move forward in peace. We will use our resources and our presence across the country to support reconciliation and peace building," Shearer said.
