East African leaders meet on South Sudan crisis

South Sudan's president and opposition disagree on need for 3rd-party intervention, an issue likely to be debated at meeting

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA (AA) - Leaders of East Africa's security and trading bloc are arriving in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa Friday for an extraordinary meeting on the crisis in South Sudan.

The eight-country Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting was called in light of the deteriorating situation in the young nation following the July 15 ouster of First Vice-President Riek Machar by President Salva Kiir, who replaced him with Gen. Taban Deng.

Deng is at the head of a group of officials who are part of the transitional government of national unity representing the SPLM/A-in-opposition.

Machar has rejected the appointment of his former right-hand man and confidant Deng, calling it illegal.

Apparently there is a split within the ranks of IO, with one party wanting to remain in the transitional government and another maintaining allegiance with Machar, who left Juba and called for third-party intervention.

It was IGAD that recommended a regional intervention force be deployed to Juba, an idea seconded by the United Nation.

Kiir, however, rejected the idea, saying he would consider any third-party force as an invader.

This issue is expected to take center stage during the extraordinary summit.

Kaynak: