The Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Government Spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth says that the government does not want the so-called ‘Troika’ countries of the United Kingdom, United States and Norway to be included in the mediation team for new peace talks.

South Sudan’s IGAD-led peace process ended unsuccessfully last week. The chairman of the East African bloc announced afterwards that he would seek to change the mediation approach before resuming talks. No date was set for new talks.

Since then reports have emerged that IGAD mediators may plan to strengthen their mediation team by including representatives of other countries.

At a press conference in Addis Ababa the spokesman of the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Tewolde Mulugeta reportedly said the talks could resume in April with the presence of representatives from the African Union and Troika countries.

Similarly, a rebel spokesman was quoted by Sudan Tribune as saying the new “IGAD-plus” formula might include diplomats of the Troika, European Union, United Nations and China.

But a senior South Sudanese official reported only diplomatic discussions to include South Africa and Tanzania in the mediation – without mentioning the Troika countries. IGAD itself has not made any announcement about its plans.

South Sudan’s Information Minister responded to these reports in an extensive interview with Radio Tamazuj today.

“Our position is that… the coming ‘IGAD-plus’ should be IGAD plus African countries. From the four sides of southern Africa, eastern Africa, north Africa and west Africa. This is what we know. But anything that brings Troika – Troika are not Africans. We are in search of an African solution… not a solution where anyone goes and brings his solution,” he said.

Makuei noted that they also have not yet been formally notified of any plans for the new talks.

Relations between Troika countries and South Sudan’s government have worsened after the former made threats to impose financial sanctions on some individuals within the government, accusing unnamed individuals of warmongering.

Two days ago the ruling party MP Philip Thon Leek said, “Everybody is surprised by the way the United States had changed and quickly turned their backs against the very people they have supported to realise their dream.”

“Instead of helping us to address our issues as friends, they have instead decided to lead a huge global campaign to remove this government," he said.

Related:

South Sudan warring group protests "white man’s" sanctions (5 March)

'I will shut down the UN' says South Sudan's information minister (17 Feb.)