Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu has been chosen at the request of warring parties in the South Sudan civil war to boost the on-going regional mediation efforts to end the conflict in that country.
President Lungu, who met the two sides at the Sheraton Hotel on January 31, 2015, said Zambia is desirous to see an end to the rebellion that has blighted South Sudan barely three years since it won independence from Khartoum.
The Head of State met South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former vice-president now rebel leader Mr Riek Machar separately to discuss the conflict.
The rebels have told President Lungu that they wanted Zambia to use its influence on South Sudan to bring about a settlement.
The President has urged the rebels to work with President Kirr towards a negotiated settlement.
He has cautioned them to be wary that if they destroy the country and kill people there will be nothing they will be fighting for as governing a country is done with the consent of the people being governed.
During discussions with President Kirr, President Lungu requested that he be allowed to re-engage the rebels so that he understands their grievances in greater detail.
The Sudanese leader permitted his counterpart to talk to the rebels.
President Kirr reaffirmed Sudan’s appreciation of the support Zambia has rendered over the years particularly the various forms of assistance and peace mediation efforts by former president Kenneth Kaunda during the long war between the north and south of the country.
This is contained in a statement released to Qfm News by the President’s special aid for press and public relations Amos Chanda.