The second round of negotiations between the warring South Sudanese parties will begin on Monday, after a hiatus of more than two weeks during which mediators have sought to prepare an agenda and gather support for the talks from regional leaders.
The South Sudanese opposition group headed by Riek Machar today confirmed that it received an invitation from the mediation to resume negotiations in Addis Ababa, where a ceasefire agreement was signed 23 January.
IGAD, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, in recent days sent envoys to capitals of Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda to meet with presidents and other dignitaries of these countries.
The IGAD-led mediation team also met with the seven released detainees of the SPLM leadership in Nairobi, and invited them to join the talks.
However, according to a statement today by Machar’s opposition group, the mediators did not yet notify them about the fate of the remaining four detainees, whom the president has vowed to prosecute. The opposition faction noted that the mediators had given assurances on the release of these detainees during the previous round of talks in Addis Ababa.
The opposition group stated that President Salva Kiir is ignoring everything that was mutually agreed, namely cessation of hostilities and release of detainees. They accused him of military escalation on the ground in order to expand the areas under control of his government before the arrival of military observers, and engagement in negative media campaigns to incite tribal hatred.
For its part, the IGAD mediation disclosed that the second round of talks “will focus on political dialogue and national reconciliation,” adding, “violence and war is not and cannot be a solution to the crisis in South Sudan.”
Meanwhile, the US Department of State also issued a statement welcoming the upcoming negotiations, saying, “We look forward to the beginning of the IGAD-led political dialogue and inclusive reconciliation process.”
But the American government added, “We urge the government of South Sudan to support these efforts and to release the remaining four political detainees. The expeditious release and transfer of all of the detainees would reduce tension and build confidence in an inclusive reconciliation process.”
The statement also expressed “deep concern” at breaches of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. This was a reference to the recent attacks in Unity State, Jonglei and elsewhere.
Photo: Members of the opposition delegation at the opening of talks in Addis Ababa, 4 January 2014 (Reuters)