South Sudan’s government has announced a plan to silence guns of war across the country by 2020 through President Kiir’s call for national dialogue in the country, a spokesman for the presidency said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, said the country will not have armed opposition groups by 2020, saying all outstanding issues will be solved though the national dialogue.

“South Sudan is having a plan by 2020 to silence the sounds of guns in South Sudan, there will be no any armed groups in the country,” said Ateny.

Ateny further said the national dialogue is the only choice for SPLA-IO rebels allied to Riek Machar. “But if Riek doesn’t believe in a peaceful means like the national dialogue, then he will continue fighting, and he will prove to South Sudanese that he is a warmonger,” said Ateny.

For his part, Onyoti Adigo Nykuac, leader of the opposition Democratic Change Party (DC), said there is no progress in the national dialogue called for by President Kiir.

He pointed out that the committees that were formed have not started their work officially, saying the ongoing war will come to an end of the two warring parties believe in dialogue and peaceful settlement of outstanding issues.

The opposition leader called on the warring parties to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts in South Sudan through dialogue. “This is not the time for exchange of fire, and many people are killed, and our people are tired of death everyday,” said Onyoti.

“The most important thing is that we should stop the sounds of gun and we work for dialogue to attain peace,” he added.

 File photo: Ateny Wek Ateny speaking to reporters after receiving SPLM-IO defectors at Juba Airport (Radio Tamazuj)