South Sudan’s government has unequivocally rejected any proposal seeking to remove the incumbent first vice president.

The current first vice-president, Taban Deng Gai, was appointed after President Salva Kiir sacked his former first deputy, Riek Machar, who left Juba following fighting in the capital in July 2016.

South Sudan’s parties adopted a presidential system of governance at the peace talks.

In a statement from Addis Ababa this afternoon, government information minister Michael Makuei said the government has clearly articulated its views on the IGAD proposal for peace in South Sudan.

“The areas of removal of the first vice president and the vice president. The areas of reasonability sharing are the areas of disagreement and we have presented our position,” Makuei said.

Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has decided to call off the peace talks today.

“This does not mean that the negotiations have failed, we have made very long strides. I am optimistic that when we are called back we will come to sign the agreement,” he said.