Over the course of just one day, South Sudan’s national dialogue co-chair Angelo Beda declared a different position than he took during the workshop on peace implementation in which he said rebel Riek Machar should wait to contest the 2018 election instead of returning to assume his previous position in Juba.
Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Thursday, Angelo Beda said his steering committee is now ready to contact all rebels, including former Frist Vice President Riek Machar to be part of the national dialogue process in the capital Juba.
“We, the leadership here will make arrangements to contact those who are outside to contact people like Dr. Riek Mahar and Dr. Lam Akol and then we will find ways and means so that they can respond to this call of the national dialogue,” said Beda.
“We are on the way to contact everybody including Dr. Lam …we are going to contact Riek Machar. But when and where, we are not going to tell you,” he added.
The elderly politician further said 15 thematic committees have already been set up to go to the states and abroad to discuss the issues that the steering committee will put forward for discussion during the national dialogue process.
“This process is not led by the government, it is led by us here, and it is not control by the government. It is neither led by the government nor control by the government but the president of the republic is standing with us to provide facilities for us,” he said.
The national dialogue co-chair pointed out that a committee for international outreach will contact refugees and opposition groups soon.
Beda claimed that the ongoing national dialogue is inclusive.” We are all stakeholders in our rights. I am a farmer and I cannot bring my maize which I produced last year to Juba here or Wau or Yambio because there are arm groups on the way,” he said.