Ten South Sudanese opposition groups that participated in the revitalization process in Ethiopia said on Friday they had agreed to work to together towards a just and durable peace in the country.
Signatories of the agreement included Machar’s deputy Henry Odwar, former detainee official Kosti Manibe, leader of the Federal Democratic Party, Gabriel Changson and leader of the National Democratic Movement, Lam Akol Ajawin.
The other groups are the People’s Democratic Movement, The South Sudan National Movement for Change, the National Salvation Front, South Sudan Patriotic Movement, South Sudan United Movement and South Sudan Liberation Movement.
In their statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, the opposition leaders said they have agreed to coordinate and synergize their negotiating positions during the revitalization process.
“As an Alliance, we welcome IGAD’s commendable efforts to ensure an inclusive, transparent and participatory process towards the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan,” the groups said.
“We signed the agreement in good faith, with honesty and integrity and we pledge ourselves to abide by it,” the group added.
The groups pointed out that they will not accept anything less than a significant revision and amendments of the 2015 peace agreement, saying the situation in South Sudan is so fundamentally different from that which prevailed when the 2015 peace agreement was signed.
“We strongly feel that ARCSS as it is, can no longer, without substantial and substantive revision, serve as a platform for a just and sustainable peace in South Sudan,” the opposition alliance said.