by Julius Gale
JUBA, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said on Tuesday a high-level forum will convene within two months to find a political solution to the South Sudan conflict.
Ismail Wais, the IGAD special envoy for South Sudan, said the east Africa regional bloc will analyze the outcome of consultations with all the estranged parties in the South Sudan conflict and develop options for revitalizing stalled peace efforts.
He said the IGAD council of ministers will convene a meeting to consider the various recommendations and options before announcing the date, location, attendance and draft agenda for the much-awaited high-level revitalization forum.
"We appreciate that this revitalization process will be underway within two months," Wais told reporters in the South Sudan capital, Juba.
"We never said it will be easy, but we mean it very seriously, and we are very determined to lead this country to peace," he added.
The IGAD envoy however did not clarify whether the regional bloc would allow exiled former deputy president-turned rebel leader Riek Machar to attend the revitalization forum.
The South Sudan conflict, which is entering its fourth year, has created one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under United Nations pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April 2016, but was shattered by renewed fighting three months later.
The UN estimates that about 4 million people have been displaced both internally and externally.
