The East African regional organization IGAD has released a timetable for resumption of peace talks between South Sudan’s government and rebels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 6 August.
The rebels’ head of external relations committee Dhieu Mathok confirmed that receiving the timetable and said he expected President Salva Kiir and SPLM/A-In Opposition rebel leader Riek Machar to visit Addis Ababa to receive a draft agreement for consultations.
Dhieu explained that the two men will join negotiations on 7 August in Addis Ababa where they will agree on any outstanding issues and then sign a final deal on 17 August.
Meanwhile, The SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum said the draft of the final peace agreement is ready and is waiting for the warring parties to sign next month.
In a press statement in Juba, Amum said the outstanding issues during the negotiations are not an obstacle to the peace process anymore.
“For sure, I’m very optimistic because it is IGAD which says that there will be a signing of a peace agreement on the 17th of August. It will be signing of agreement – it’s no longer negotiations,” he was quoted as saying.
But Dhieu denied this, saying there will be negotiations for ten days. The rebel official expressed optimism about reaching a final peace deal as soon as possible.
He noted that the continuation of the civil war means the continuation of the suffering and bloodshed of the people of South Sudan.