Intense negotiations between the government of South Sudan (RTGoNU) and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) took place in Rome, Italy, over the weekend with the mediation of the Community of Sant’Egidio.
The delegations, according to Sant’Egidio, reached agreement on most of the points contained in the text called "Declaration of Principles" including the federal nature of government and the division of powers; national identity and respect for ethnic, cultural and linguistic differences; the creation of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC) and the creation of an oversight mechanism on economic governance (revenue, budget, and expenditure).
The two delegations also agreed on the reform of the civil and public sector as well as of a new security sector, the internal borders between the different regions of the country, the respect of territories and rights of indigenous communities, and the active participation of the international community in all the phases following the Rome initiative.
According to the mediators, The Community of Sant’Egidio, two points are still to be agreed upon: the nature of the conflict and the method to approve the new constitution, which is currently being drafted.
“On the first point, the SSOMA insists on the ethnic nature of the war while the government refuses to acknowledge this interpretation. On the second there is the dispute over the referendum as an instrument of ratification. The mediation has reserved the right to make further proposals on these issues,” The community of Sant’Egidio said in a statement.
“The reconciliation work has been conducted in the presence of the international community and will continue in the coming days and weeks to seek shared solutions. Thanking IGAD Ambassador Ismail Wais, Kenya's Special Envoy Kalonzo Musyoka, Uganda's Special Envoy Betty Oyella Bigombe, and US special envoy Amb. Stuart Symington for their presence,” the statement said.
“The Community of Sant'Egidio expresses its satisfaction that violence in the Equatoria region has substantially decreased, as a result of the ceasefire monitoring agreement reached a few weeks ago in Rome in conjunction with the resumption of dialogues in October,” the statement continued.
The statement concluded that Sant'Egidio will pursue, together with the international community, its commitment to the search for an inclusive and lasting peace for South Sudan.