August 4, 2022.

Western diplomats in South Sudan have said they will not attend a meeting convened by the nation’s President Salva Kiir to discuss a roadmap to implement the country’s peace agreement.

South Sudan’s foreign affairs ministry says it sent invitations to all diplomatic missions, regional and international non-governmental organisations accredited to South Sudan to attend the Thursday event that will be presided by the president.

The meeting was to be attended by First Vice-President Riek Machar and the other four vice-presidents and political parties who are signatories to the revitalised peace deal.

However, the heads of missions of the US, the UK and Norway – known as the Troika for South Sudan – wrote to President Kiir expressing regret that they would not attend.

They said this is because all the relevant parties have not been included in consultations about the contents of the roadmap and an extension to the transitional period.