An IGAD special envoy on South Sudan mediation process is urging the parties to implement the peace agreement.

The retired Kenyan army General, Lazaro Sumbeiywo, who was the rapporteur of the IGAD mediation team on South Sudan peace process for nearly 21 months, was in Juba on Wednesday.

Speaking to the South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation, Gen Sumbeiywo said he visited Juba to encourage the parties to speed up the implementation of the peace agreement.

“Very recently, I was told there was a very serious outbreak of a disease in Juba [the recent violence] that created a very bad situation where the child [South Sudan] was very, very seriously ill,” he said.

“But I’m very pleased that, that situation now has been addressed and that is why I have come to see the First Vice President, to congratulate him and to say please don’t allow this baby to get sick again.”

General Lazaro Sumbeiywo was speaking to SSBC after he paid a courtesy visit to the new First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

Gen Sumbeiywo was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s Special Envoy to the IGAD mediation team following the eruption of the conflict in South Sudan in December 2013.

He was appointed because of his previous experience as the IGAD mediator on the Sudan peace process from 2001 to 2005, which led to the signing of the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA.