The South Sudan government and the SSOMA faction led by Paul Malong and Pagan Amum resumed talks in Rome, Italy, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the presidential affairs minister said.

“The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity arrived Rome on 15 July 2021. On the afternoon of the same day, the talks were opened led by Dr. Paolo Impagliazzo, Secretary-General of the Community of Sant’ Egidio,” Dr. Marial said. “The talks started in a very jovial and cooperative mood. Today 16 July, we will continue discussions with SSOMA led by Pagan Amum and Paul Malong based on the declaration of principles which was signed in Naivasha, Kenya in March this year.”

He said he expects the talks, which started on Thursday, to be held cordially and that the government delegation was in Rome with an open mind.

“We expect the talks to go amicably and the government delegation under the direction of President Salva Kiir is coming with an open mind, with all the options on the table and the delegation is ready to discuss this with their brothers and sisters in SSOMA led by Malong and Amum,” Dr. Marial said.

The minister said the R-ARCISS is already bearing fruits and that the hold-out groups should join in its implementation.

“To us as a government delegation, we are confident that the present agreement we are implementing is bringing peace to the people of South Sudan and we would like our brothers and sisters, non-signatories, to join us in the implementation process,” Minister Marial said. “If they have any reasons or any views that they believe are not covered in the R-ARCISS, then we are in a position to review what those views are and they can, later on, become an addendum to R-ARCIS.”