IGAD names new leader for South Sudan ceasefire monitoring group.

A senior Ethiopian military commander has been selected as the new head of South Sudan’s ceasefire monitoring commission by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).

Lt. General Asrat Denero was sworn in as the new head of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Verification Mechanism on Monday (CTSAM-VM).

Maj Gen Teshome Gemechu Aderie, who has served on the mission for more than two years, is replaced by Gen Asrat.

In a tweet obtained by NCMP on Monday evening, Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, Igad’s executive secretary spokesperson, hailed the incoming chairman as a professional military commander in a tweet obtained by NCMP on Monday evening.

Sheekh continued, “He is worldwide known as a very skilled and professional officer.”

Lt. Gen. Asrat has also served as the Ethiopian Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief and the Metekel Zone Integrated Command Post Coordinator.

The primary task of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism is to report to IGAD on the status of the ceasefire agreement in South Sudan.

The chairman’s job is to keep peace parties engaged in the ceasefire agreement, particularly the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2018.

Among the current ceasefire breaches that would need his quick attention are the ongoing military clashes in Upper Nile State between troops loyal to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and the breakaway faction – Kitgwang Declaration – that have been at odds since last year.

He’ll also be in charge of investigating the long-awaited unification of troops into a single professional army.

Last year, the previous chairman stated that cantoned troops were abandoning training facilities and cantonment centers owing to deplorable living circumstances.