South Sudan’s foreign minister says the government in Juba is disappointed after it was left out of a meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the country’s conflict.
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Those at the talks included Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibarahim Ghandour and the chair of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
For President Barack Obama, the birth of South Sudan four years ago was the capstone of his Africa policy. Uganda, for example, openly supports the South Sudan government.
South Sudan’s marathon runner Guor Marial competed at the London 2012 Olympics but did so under the Olympic flag after refusing to run for Sudan and with South Sudan not yet an IOC member.
“That is very disappointing on the part of IGAD chairperson as well as the African Union because this republic should have been invited”.
Kuala Lumpur (dpa) – The executive board of the worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday recommended the recognition of strife-torn South Sudan as a member of the world’s largest sports body. They also expressed disappointment that both President Kiir and former vice president and now rebel leader Riek Machar have yet to ensure peace is restored to South Sudan despite repeated peace negotiations mediated by IGAD. Bu, t a spokesman for South Sudan rejected the plan and accused the global community of “jeopardizing the chances of the people of South Sudan”.
Today’s decision follows the founding meeting of the South Sudan Olympic Committee last month at which Lieutenant General Wilson Deng Kuoirot was appointed the President and all the relevant documents were finalised. “So we can’t undo this for them”, he said, referring to the crisis. Yes, we have a crisis, but please respect us as an elected government.
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In fighting showing no signs of letting up, thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.2 million displaced, since violence erupted in December 2013, according to the UN.
