Vatican to host ‘spiritual retreat’ for South Sudan’s president and rival

Opposition leader’s spokesman says the meeting will focus on bringing the two together

Pope Francis exchanging gifts with President Salva Kiir Mayardit during a private audience at the Vatican in March 2019 (Alessandra Tarantino/AFP/Getty Images)

South Sudan’s president and opposition leader are expected to travel to the Vatican next week for what has been described as a “spiritual retreat”.

South Sudanese opposition officials have said is an effort to help implement the country’s peace deal.

Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti confirmed the visit on Wednesday.

He said the spiritual retreat was scheduled next week at the Vatican for “the leaders of South Sudan”, but he did not identify them.

The meeting comes a month after President Salva Kiir met with Pope Francis to discuss the peace process.

A deputy spokesman for opposition leader Riek Machar, Manawa Peter, said the April 10 Vatican meeting between Mr Machar and Mr Kiir would focus on confidence-building and helping to bring the two together.

A peace deal calls for a functional government by May.

Associated Press