South Sudan rebel faction leader Thomas Cirillo said on Friday their talks with the incumbent government could lead to formation of a new coalition government.

Gen. Cirillo is the leader of the National Salvation Front (NAS) faction, which refused to sign the September 2018 peace agreement.

His group is part of South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), a coalition of holdout opposition groups that signed a declaration of principles with the government in Rome, Italy last week. The document was signed under the auspices of the community of Sant’ Egidio, a Rome-based lay Catholic movement.

 “Our talks may lead to the restructuring of government organs to meet the aspirations of the people of South Sudan,” Cirillo told Radio Tamazuj.

He vowed to push for a wave of reforms during peace negotiations, saying his group will demand for political and economic reforms in the country.

“Management of the country’s resources, system of governance, constitution and transitional justice will be put on the table for discussion,” he explained.

Cirillo, a former deputy army chief in South Sudan’s army, argues that the revitalised peace deal that did not address the issues of the conflict and would not therefore bring sustainable peace in South Sudan.

Cirillo’s remarks come as President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar race against time to form a unity government by 22 February. But the contentious issues of determining the number of states and security arrangements are yet to be finalised.

The opposition official said his group will not join a transitional government under terms set by the incumbent leadership. Cirillo said he is committed to the cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed last week.

“The first meeting between both sides will take place in the coming two weeks. Military committees from both the government and the holdout opposition groups will meet in Rome to work out a monitoring mechanism,” he said.

According to Gen. Cirillo, the community of Sant’ Egidio is still preparing for direct talks between the government and the non-signatories to the 2018 peace agreement.

Cirillo has vowed to continue fighting if talks with the government fail.