Pagan Amum said the group of 10 former detainees he is representing at peace talks in Addis Ababa will not return to Juba until a peace deal is signed.
Amum is also the secretary general of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
He told Radio Miraya he is optimistic President Salva Kiir will sign the deal within the 15 days he requested for consultations.
Amum also refuted the allegations of government spokesperson Michael Makuei that he has backtracked from the Arusha Reunification Agreement. Makuei accused Amum of having left the ruling party because he signed the most recent peace deal.
Amum pointed out that he signed the deal on behalf of the G10 faction, not the government. Before he rejoined the ruling party earlier this year, Amum and the other detainees had been participating in the talks as a third party.