South Sudan’s opposition group led by former vice president Riek Machar has described the statement by Information Minister Michael Makuei as reckless and irresponsible.

On Thursday, Makuei said in a statement that President Salva Kiir was not ready to work again with his archrival Riek Machar after their first face-to-face meeting in Addis Ababa in almost two years. He also said opposition leader Riek Machar should remain in exile.

Mabior Garang de Mabior, head of the SPLM-IO committee for information, said Minister Makuei has personalized the ongoing conflict in our country.

“This is unfortunate at a time when the negotiations are at a high level of maturity. This bad politics is from a known peace spoiler and it is only intended to derail the peace process,” partly reads the statement.

“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) calls on our members and the public at large to dismiss these statements as those from anti-peace agents in the regime,” adds the statement.

The opposition official pointed out that the catalyst and subsequent events that resulted in the ongoing civil war is well documented by the final report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and several reports by the UN Panel of Experts and other rights groups.

“The statements of the Minister of Information are not only misleading, they are also ridiculous as one doesn't make peace with friends, one makes peace with adversaries,” Mabior said.

Mabior said their movement is confident in the peace process and will leave no stone unturned in the search for peace through a negotiated settlement.