CEPO Director Edmund Yakani | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has called on President Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar to jointly meet internally displaced persons, instead of politicizing their situation.

Yakani, who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization says the two leaders should meet the IDPs together to show reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace.

“They can’t go and meet the IDPs individually, if they go meet the IDPs individually, it is a politicized meeting of the IDPs,” the activist said on Eye Radio’s Dawn Show.

On Wednesday, President Kiir met with displaced persons at Freedom Hall in Juba.

During the meeting held under the theme: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Peace, and Resettlement, Kiir expressed support for facilitating the voluntary return of refugees.

The Head of state reportedly appealed to the conflict survivors to return to their respective areas of origin or the capital city, Juba.

He is said to have assured the displaced persons of their security while calling on the international partners to support the government in reintegrating returnees back to their areas of origin.

On the other hand, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar is also expected to meet with the IDPs at the protection of civilians site in Juba on Sunday.

Activist Yakani has criticized the move, saying that both leaders should jointly meet the IDPs as a sign of peace.

“Since 2013, H.E. the President has not met the IDPs. This is the first time he is meeting the IDPs since 2013, but you know he met the IDPs alone. That’s the point of disappointment, it is a good act, but I wish he met them together with (deputy) Dr. Riek Machar.”

“The principals meeting IDPs alone will easily politicize the environment of meeting IDPs. I wish they will go both of them and meet the IDPs.  It is a big message and more important than speeches.”