The government of the United Kingdom has pointed out that South Sudan’s president is reported to have “reversed a previous commitment” to attend peace talks in Addis Ababa.
At the end of the last round of talks, Kiir signed a document agreeing to resume negotiations on 19 February. The document stated that these talks would be “the final negotiations and will be conducted by the two Principals” – a reference to Kiir and his rival Riek Machar, who lead South Sudan’s two warring parties.
Five days have elapsed since the agreed date for resuming the talks. Kiir has not arrived in Addis Ababa and his spokesman Michael Makuei was today quoted as saying that Kiir will not take part in the talks but only attend a final signing ceremony if a deal is reached.
Following this report, the UK Foreign Office Minister Baroness Joyce Anelay said: “I am concerned that it has been announced that President Kiir will not travel to Addis Ababa for this final round of talks, reversing a previous commitment to regional leaders.”
“Thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes, the humanitarian situation is getting worse and the economy is rapidly deteriorating. I call on South Sudan’s leaders to use this final round of talks to honour their commitments, make the necessary compromises and secure peace for the people of South Sudan,” she said.
The British official added, “The recent proposal of the Government of South Sudan to modify the constitution to extend the mandate of the President and the National Legislature by two years must not be used as a reason to delay concluding a peace agreement by 5 March.”
Photo: The initials of Salva Kiir Mayardit (SKM) on the “Areas of Agreement” document dated 1 February 2015, in which he committed to personally conduct peace negotiations in Addis Ababa