“Trust and maintaining momentum key for success of Revitalization Forum,” says scholar

A researcher and former peace monitor in South Sudan says the success of the next session of the High-Level Revitalization Forum the convenes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 05th largely depends on realistic benchmarks, clear expectations and maintaining momentum. 

Aly Verjee, the former acting chief of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), now visiting research scholar with the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington DC, says regional grouping IGAD should frame the expected outcomes clearly without dictating to the parties. 

Mr. Verjee said the trust between parties is another important ingredient for the success of the forum, adding that realistic and “clear indicators of success” are also critical.

Aly Verjee said the African Union and IGAD should act on their threats to hold spoilers of peace to account through proposed sanctions. 

He spoke to Irene Lasu in this interview.