Former political detainees accept Kiir’s national dialogue in principle

File photo: Pagan Amum

The Former Political Detainees (FDs), who also describe themselves SPLM leaders group, said they support, in principle, Kiir’s national dialogue as a concept for resolving the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

The Former Political Detainees (FDs), who also describe themselves SPLM leaders group, said they support, in principle, Kiir’s national dialogue as a concept for resolving the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

"We note with dismay that the current war which resumed in earnest in July 2016, and its myriad effects of cruel targeting of civilian populations, has sadly spread to cover the whole of Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria states as well as parts of Lakes, Warrap and Aweil states, with catastrophic consequences, “party reads a Friday statement bearing signature of Pagan Amum, leader of the former detainees faction.

However, the opposition group expressed grave concerns and reservations with the manner and the modalities set up by President Salva Kiir to conduct the national dialogue.

"The manner and the modalities set up by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, which, in our view, are not in line with the known best practices. These include, among others, lack of consultation with other stakeholders on agenda and nomination, unilateral determination of modalities, ground rules and guidelines, lack of transparency of the process, absence of inclusivity and integrity," it said.

Amum pointed out that his group remains open to engage on the matters they have outlined with the view of finding remedies or initiating a new independent and inclusive process.

The group noted that ending the war in South Sudan through a new and inclusive political process should be the priority before to hold a national dialogue or to discuss the SPLM reunification.

SPLM-FDs is a faction made up of senior party officials who were detained when the conflict began in December 2013.