The mediation team of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has suggested to negotiators on Monday evening to suspend the South Sudan peace negotiations in Addis Ababa yet again, according to sources at the talks.

Thus far the negotiations have principally involved only the two main parties to the conflict. It is expected that at later stages the mediation will seek to involve also various other political forces, civil society, women and youth representatives in the peace process hosted in the Ethiopian capital.

Over the weekend face-to-face talks between the South Sudanese government and armed opposition led by Riek Machar resulted in progress on the matter of an agenda for the peace talks and the declaration of principles.

However, sources within the talks informed Radio Tamazuj that the mediation notified the two sides of suspension of the talks until 30 April. This has not yet been formally announced, however; a press conference is expected on Tuesday.

The same sources explained that the reason for the suspension is that the mediation are unwilling to accept at this stage a signing of a declaration of principles without the SPLM ‘group of seven’ – the third bloc whom the mediators wish to include in the talks.

Both parties to the talks are expected in the meantime to be working on their draft positions for the negotiations.

Photo: IGAD Special Envoys Amb. Seyoum Mesfin and Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo