Peace talks resume in Addis Ababa

By

Peter Louis

Following South Sudan’s warring factions initially being given 15 days for their leaders to consult over terms, the two parties have now resumed peace talks in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa in an attempt to end the conflict that started last year in Juba.

In his earlier briefing, the Press Secretary of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Ateny Wek Ateny, told journalists in Juba that the government delegation had already arrived in Addis Ababa for the peace talks.

Ateny stated that “the office of the President would like to inform South Sudanese citizens, the region, the AU and the whole international community on the steps we have taken as a legitimately elected government and as a country, to live up to our people’s expectations as we aspire to return the country to normalcy and to build a prosperous nation state based on democratic ideals and respect for fundamental human rights.”

Following the November 10th Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of States and Governments, South Sudanese Leaders resolved to embark on consultations with their respective stakeholders on the nature of power sharing and the structure of transitional government in post war South Sudan. The IGAD mediators in turn, provided 15 days and another deadline for this to take effect.

Logistical problems had made it difficult for the two warring parties to consult with their respective stakeholders in a timely manner, therefore, the deadline elapsed without adapting to a given negotiating position.

“As the government, we are engaging in the consultation process with our various stakeholders and shall soon be coming up with the position that would be tabled in the IGAD peace process”, Ateny said.

Ateny added that as a ruling party they are “fully focused on resolving the dispute within the SPLM leadership that precipitated the current political crisis. The second round of the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue in Arusha, Tanzania under the auspices of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party (CCM) commences on December 18th, and we shall keep public informed about any achievement in this process.”

“We therefore would like to appeal for understanding and support from those who have love for the South Sudan government and people, as well as those who wish the South Sudanese to be a very peaceful, prosperous and harmonious nation state,” Ateny concluded.

Peter Louis

Peter Louis works as a freelance Videographer and Journalist in the Republic of South Sudan. He previously worked for Ebony TV, South Sudan Radio and South Sudan TV, Wau.