Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 21 January 2015, concluded a working visit to the United Republic of Tanzania where, in his capacity as President Jacob Zuma's Special Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan, he witnessed the signing of an agreement on the reunification of the Republic of South Sudan's Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) held in Arusha.
Divisions among three factions of the SPLM have engulfed South Sudan in conflict since December 2013.
On Wednesday, January 21 2015, Deputy President Ramaphosa participated, on behalf of President Jacob Zuma, in the Intra-SPLM Dialogue Summit and final stages of consultations near Arusha, Tanzania, among the SPLM leadership - including President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and former Deputy President Riek Machar - and Heads of State of neighbouring Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
The SPLM intra-party dialogue was facilitated by Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, South Africa's African National Congress and the National Resistance Movement of Uganda.
The signing ceremony was hosted by President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania. The Arusha Agreement commits the SPLM to rebuilding and democratising the movement internally in order to promote national harmony and end the conflict afflicting the people of South Sudan, the newest state in the international community.
The Arusha Agreement recognises the collective responsibility within the SPLM for the conflict in South Sudan and calls for a public apology to this effect by all SPLM groups. The agreement commits the movement to expediting efforts to end the war and to enhance the values and culture of democracy, unity and development.
Addressing delegates to the late-night signing ceremony, Deputy President Ramaphosa paid tribute to Tanzania as a nation that inspired others to secure peace. "This is a big night for peace in our continent," said Deputy President. "Tonight is Africa's peace night.
"We expect this agreement will silence the guns that have been raging in South Sudan; that it will silence the guns of death, destruction and the displacement of thousands and thousands of people in South Sudan."
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