Peace talks between South Sudan’s government and SPLA-IO rebels will resume in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) overseeing the talks set 19 February as a start date.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, SPLM-IO spokesman Manawa Peter Gatkuoth confirmed that they have received an official invitation from IGAD mediators on the resumption of the peace talks.
“Our delegation is ready for the talks and some of them would travel, and by tomorrow they will hold a meeting with the SPLM-IO leader,” he said.
This round of peace talks will focus on the system of governance and power-sharing, according to the rebel spokesman.
When asked about their reaction about the postponement of elections plan by SPLM-Juba, Gatkuoth said the step will definitely give a chance to the ongoing peace talks.
“With respect to the extension of Salva Kiir’s legitimacy and the national legislature for two years, it is not a matter because if an agreement is reached there will be other arrangements for the current institutions,” he said.
For his part, the South Sudanese information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told Radio Tamazuj that they have been notified officially about the resumption of the negotiations with Riek Machar’s opposition group in Addis Ababa.
“Yes, we have been invited, but we are still waiting for tickets. The tickets have not been given to us so far,” he said yesterday.
Makuei said they are ready to discuss all outstanding issues so that they can reach peace and then implement the matrix for a transitional government of national unity on the agreed deadline.
The official hinted that the two warring parties could agree on a different proposal if the recent IGAD proposal is rejected by both sides. “We are going to start the talks from where we had stopped,” he said.
Makuei criticised those who reject the postponement of elections, saying the decision was taken in order to give peace a chance. Makuei, who is also the government spokesman pointed out that the decision was also taken to avoid a constitutional vacuum in South Sudan.
“First of all, if we fail to reach peace on the agreed timeframe then there will not be any constitutional vacuum, and secondly we don’t want to hold elections because we have showed our commitment to peace,” he emphasised.