South Sudanese peace forum in deadlock over security dossier

South Sudanese warring parties at peace talks in neighbouring Ethiopia are unable to reach consensus over contentious matters after days of deliberations on cessation of hostilities.

South Sudanese warring parties at peace talks in neighbouring Ethiopia are unable to reach consensus over contentious matters after days of deliberations on cessation of hostilities.

Henry Odwar, deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO faction and head of the delegation at peace revitalization forum, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that “no progress” has been made to overcome differences on two issues on Wednesday.

“We have reached a deadlock with the government yesterday, but we have left the issue to the mediation. I cannot disclose the two contentious issues now because the mediators are working on them,” he said.

However, he pointed out that progress has been made in matters related to humanitarian access. “We have agreed on it, but what remains is how humanitarian aid can reach the people of South Sudan,” he said.

The senior rebel official explained that verification issues need to be addressed before the signing of the permanent ceasefire agreement.

Odwar also said the opposition demanded an arms embargo be imposed on South Sudan during the coalition government and that the monitoring body tasked with overseeing implementation of the 2015 peace deal including the ceasefire should be reconstituted.

“We also said CTSAMM should be restructured because we don’t have members there. What is not resolved now is the security of JMEC members,” he said.

“We said that if the security is a problem, all members representing the parties should be outside and leave the secretariat to compile reports on the ground, but the other parties insisted that the members should stay in South Sudan,” he said.

Odwar, who is a former lawmaker in Juba before he joined Riek Machar, reiterated his movement’s commitment to make peace in South Sudan. “We want to find a solution by all means because our people in South Sudan are suffering from the ongoing war,” he said.