South Sudan’s former military chief-turned rebel leader and the IGAD special envoy for South Sudan Ismail Wais held a consultative meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, a rebel official said.

In April 2017, Paul Malong formed a rebel group to challenge President Salva Kiir. He accused the president of turning the country into a failed state.

Sunday de John, a spokesman for South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by Paul Malong , told Radio Tamazuj this morning that the consultative meeting between Malong and Wais focused on how to end the conflict peacefully in South Sudan.

He pointed out that the meeting would pave way for further engagement on matters related to peace and expressed commitment to respecting the implementation of the permanent ceasefire across the country.

Sunday further said their rebel group stands in solidarity with the people of South Sudan in its endeavor to attain peace and stability. “We have agreed not to carry out any attack to give peace a chance,” he said.

“We are part of the cessation of hostilities. We cannot obstruct humanitarian access because it a service to our people,” he added.

The spokesman called for renegotiation of the revitalized peace agreement to encompass all parties if they are to join the peace process.

This is the first time the East African regional bloc IGAD has sought to hold consultations with Paul Malong and his rebel faction.

In November, the IGAD Council of Ministers directed the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan to reach out to any warring groups who are not signatories to the peace deal. The regional bloc warned that the non-signatories would "be categorized as spoilers of the peace process" if they reject peace.