Addis Ababa, 28 June 2018: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, welcomes the Khartoum Declaration Agreement between the Parties to the Conflict in South Sudan, signed on 27 June 2018. He urges the South Sudanese stakeholders to sustain the momentum set by this Agreement, in order to end the suffering of their people and bring about lasting peace and reconciliation. He welcomes the declaration of a permanent ceasefire and takes note of the invitation extended to Member States to deploy the necessary forces to supervise this ceasefire.

The Chairperson of the Commission commends President Omar Hassan Al Bashir of The Sudan for having facilitated the meeting and acknowledges the contribution of President Yoweri Musevini of Uganda.

The Chairperson of the Commission expresses the full support of the African Union for the ongoing face-to-face discussions between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Reik Machar, which provide a strong basis for lasting reconciliation in the country. He pledges the commitment of the African Union to continue working closely with IGAD to advance peace, security and reconciliation in South Sudan, including through the efforts of the High-Level ad hoc Committee on South Sudan and those of the High Representative for South Sudan, former President Alpha Oumar Konaré.