Kenyan president visits South Sudan in search of peace

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - Kenyan president arrived in the South Sudanese capital Juba Tuesday to meet the country’s top officials, including President Salva Kiir to discuss the ongoing conflict and implementation of the peace process.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta serves as the focal point for an eight nations trading and security bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which has been brokering the South Sudan peace deal.

Kenyatta is also the first head of state to visit the country after the recent fighting in July, and comes just days before the United Nations Security Council representatives are expected to visit South Sudan.

He was received at the Juba International Airport by South Sudan’s new First Vice President Taban Deng Gai before he inspected a full guard of honor by the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA).

"I am glad to have seen for myself that after the unfortunate incident that took place a few weeks ago, it looks like everything is back to normal, there is peace in Juba which is a very good indication," Kenyatta said at the state house.

"We are here to encourage and give support to them to ensure that there is peace and stability in South Sudan, which are the key ingredients for the prosperity we wish for the people of South Sudan. We are here to ask the government to push the peace agreement and the reforms that were agreed forward," he added.

Kiir said Kenyatta’s visit showed strong leadership in east Africa. "For President Uhuru to come to Juba as the first head of state after our crisis, it shows that the regional leadership is with us, and they are very concerned about the situation in South Sudan," he said.

Kiir and ex-vice president Riek Machar formed a unity government in April to put an end to the violence that has so far claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, displaced over two million from their homes since December 2013. The renewed fighting broke out in July, forcing Machar to flee from the capital after his base was overran by Kiir’s troops.