President Salva Kiir said the National Dialogue is not a trick of his government to cling onto power, pointing out that it is an important national undertaking designed to unite the people of South Sudan.

This comes during his speech while addressing the members of parliament at the opening of the second session after a three-month recess on Tuesday.

"I also want to make it absolutely clear to those who question and doubt our intentions, and to our regional and international partners that the National Dialogue initiative we have rolled out is not a trick," said Kiir.

"Not a delaying tactic or a calculated strategy by the government to consolidate its grip on power as anti-peace elements always claim. We are not in the business of delaying tactics or tricks, we are a government and our business is to work for the unity of the people of South Sudan," he added.

The South Sudanese leader directed the national parliament to approve a supplementary budget for the upcoming dialogue in March.

Kiir called on government partners and opposition groups to cast any doubt aside and join the National Dialogue initiative for the sake of unity and stability in the country.

"The National Dialogue is a genuine desire of the people of South Sudan, and the government is determined to push it forward as it has been outlined," said Kiir.

He pointed out that his government is open to any inputs and suggestions to improve the proposed National Dialogue." The National Dialogue is not written in a stone, it is design with a great flexibility, so we are open to any inputs and suggestions to improve it," he said.

Kiir urged the national parliament to mobilize the people of South Sudan at the grassroots level to join the dialogue process.

In December 2016, President Kiir announced a national dialogue which he said will be bottom-top approach to address local grievances and political issues in South Sudan.

But Kiir's main rival, Riek Machar, described the dialogue to end the ongoing conflict as "bogus”.

Photo: President Kiir (AFP/Samir Bol)