The former political detainees in the unity government led by foreign minister Deng Alor Kuol have issued a statement stating that they welcome separate consultations proposed by IGAD countries prior to revitalization of the 2015 peace accord.

“We do not see any issue in IGAD consulting all parties separately or even as one entity,” the former detainees in Juba said in a statement dated 7 October.

The group further said it welcomes the request made by a team representing the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to conduct consultations on issues of peace in South Sudan.

“It is our strong belief and hope that the convening of the proposed ARCSS Revitalization Forum by IGAD, will greatly enhance current efforts being undertaken by the parties of the agreement in South Sudan and their regional and international partners, to bring about durable peace and stability to our war-torn country and the immense suffering of our people,” partly reads the statement.

The former detainees pointed out that the revitalization process will address challenges facing implementation of the 2015 peace agreement.

The statement bears the signatures of Deng Alor Kuol, leader of SPLM-FDs in Juba, John Luk Jok, minister of transport and Madut Bior Yel, MP and chairman of labour and human resource development.

The group was reacting to a revitalization timetable released by the East African regional bloc IGAD. The consultations, in which Alor’s group in Juba was selected as one of the groups to be consulted, are expected to start next week.

On Friday, members of the opposition faction of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai officially rejected separate consultations on the IGAD revitalization process, saying they want to be consulted as one body under the coalition government.