IGAD Appoints Ex-Botswana President As Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Head For S. Sudan

By Jok P Mayom

JUBA, 19 October 2015 [Gurtong]:  In a letter dated October 16th, 2015 seen by Gurtong, the Chairman of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government appoints Hon. Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Former President of Botswana as Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Head for South Sudan.

“In my capacity as the Chairman of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, I am pleased to inform your Excellency that the Heads of State and Government of IGAD have appointed you to chair and lead the Join Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC)” the letter to Hon. Festus partly reads.

“….and in accordance with the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, and following wider consultation between leaders of the IGAD region and our partners” the letter added.

JMEC is a mechanism established by the Agreement as a vital institution necessary to encourage and support the South Sudan signatory Parties to the Agreement to implement it in good faith.

“I would like therefore to thank your Excellency for accepting this heavy responsibility that you have been entrusted with, and for your continued commitment and determination to Africa’s sustainable peace and security, good governance and development”

Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister and Chairman of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government assure the incoming head of JMEC that the IGAD leaders and all partners in the IGAD-PLUS will continue their commitment and support to ensuring full implementation of the Agreement.

The IGAD chairman said the effort will continue throughout the negotiation process to give their strong and all round support to the JMEC Head towards ensuring the full implementation of the Agreement.

Mr. Mogae (born 21 August 1939) is a Motswana politician who served as President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was re-elected in October 2004. He stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Ian Khama. He is married to Barbara Mogae, and they have three children: Chedza, Nametso and Boikaego.

Mogae studied Economics in the United Kingdom, first at University College, Oxford and then at the University of Sussex. He returned to Botswana to work as a civil servant before taking up posts with the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana. He was Vice-President of Botswana from 1992 to 1998.