Ethiopia has long been committed to promoting peace and stability in South Sudan, a country that has suffered from decades of conflict and violence. In recent years, Ethiopia has played a critical role in helping to mediate negotiations between the various warring factions in South Sudan and has provided significant humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in 2018, has made it clear that Ethiopia remains committed to supporting peace and stability in South Sudan. In a speech delivered in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Prime Minister Abiy said, “Ethiopia will continue to stand with you as you navigate the difficult path of building peace and stability in your country.”
The Prime Minister’s words were not just rhetoric. Ethiopia has been actively involved in the peace process in South Sudan for several years. In 2018, Ethiopia hosted talks between the warring parties in South Sudan, which eventually led to the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The agreement was seen as a major step towards ending the conflict in South Sudan, which had claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.
Since the signing of the R-ARCSS, Ethiopia has continued to play a key role in supporting the implementation of the agreement. In 2020, Ethiopia hosted a high-level meeting of the parties to the agreement, which was attended by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and the leader of the main opposition group, Riek Machar. The meeting was aimed at resolving outstanding issues related to the implementation of the agreement and was seen as a critical step towards consolidating the fragile peace in South Sudan.
In addition to its diplomatic efforts, Ethiopia has also been providing significant humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ethiopia is one of the largest humanitarian donors to South Sudan, having contributed over $10 million in humanitarian assistance in 2020 alone.
Prime Minister Abiy has acknowledged these challenges and has pledged to continue working with the government and people of South Sudan to promote peace and stability.
