East African leaders meet on South Sudan crisis

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA

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.