South Sudan, holdout groups hold consultative peace talks in Rome

June 22, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan confirmed on Thursday that it would engage in indirect consultative peace talks with holdout groups in Rome, Italy, following an invitation from the Sant’Egidio mediation team.

“We have received an invitation from the mediation in Rome, and we are awaiting approval from His Excellency the President of the Republic, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit. Our team will proceed once he provides the directives and gives the green light. Indeed, talks will resume. The current consultative talks involve the mediation team and the parties. It is not a negotiation process,” stated South Sudan’s Minister of Presidential Affairs, Barnaba Marial Benjamin.

The top presidential aide did not disclose the exact date for the government delegation’s departure from Juba to Rome, as it depends on the President’s decision and timing.

The mediation team has released a timeline indicating that the indirect consultative talks will occur from June 24 to June 28, 2023. However, the schedule does not detail the talks between the government and the holdout groups.

According to multiple high-profile officials familiar with the situation, the progress of the talks has been sluggish due to President Kiir’s ongoing efforts to assemble a team to negotiate with the holdout groups, specifically Gen Thomas Cirillo, Pagan Amum, and Paul Malong Awan.

Minister Benjamin mentioned that the upcoming talks, set to begin next week, will resume from where negotiations had ceased when the government temporarily suspended its participation in May 2023.

“The government and these groups have signed the Rome Agreement, the Rome Declaration, the Rome Resolutions, and the Cessation of Hostilities in 2017, with commitments from all sides. Additionally, there was the Declaration of Principles, consisting of 13 points for discussion, which we had initialled before the talks were suspended. Now, we are moving forward with that process,” he said.

He added that consultative talks signify the government’s seriousness and the President’s commitment to conclude these talks by signing a peace agreement.

For his part, the leader of the Real SPLM, Pagan Amum, told Sudan Tribune that he anticipates the talks to commence when the government delegation arrives in Rome, Italy. He stated that he and his team are prepared to engage in the consultative dialogue.

“The mediation side has informed us that the government team will arrive for consultations. They have also extended an invitation to us, and we are preparing for these talks,” stated Amum.

However, Amum doubted the government’s commitment to concluding negotiations, citing numerous meetings without immediate resolution.

“We have been informed that they will come, but the question is what actions will follow their words. The question lies in the steps taken and where they will lead,” explained Amum.

While the government has been accused of employing delaying tactics to frustrate the holdout groups and recruit supporters, some observers caution that the group and its allies should proceed with caution.

They argue that rejecting the government’s perceived peace overture could potentially push President Kiir closer to abandoning the entire process altogether.

(ST)