South Sudan begins talks with ex-rebel leaders
May 8, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has sent a delegation to Nairobi to meet and hold preliminary discussions with rebel leaders who accepted his amnesty in April and laid down their weapons.
The government delegation led by Telar Riing Deng, presidential adviser on legal and constitutional affairs is in the Kenyan capital to meet a rebel delegation reportedly led by Bapiny Monytuil Wicjang, Tut Keaw and several others who responded to the amnesty.
A well placed source at the presidency told Sudan Tribune that President Kiir has accepted the integration of the ex-rebel fighters into South Sudan’s army – the SPLA – but says that this can only happen after they are moved to location to be decided by the defence ministry.
President Kiir, the source said, had also agreed to provide a financial package to facilitate the rebel soldier’s rehabilitation and reintegration into society. However, Kiir is undecided over whether he will give any of the rebel leaders government positions, said the source.
The official who requested anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that the rebels leaders expected to meet Kiir’s presidential adviser in Nairobi does not include Upper Nile state rebel leader John Uliny, who is sometimes referred to as Johnson.
“We do not have information of the presence of Johnson Uliny with the group expected to meet our delegation. The information we have now indicates that he is still in Khartoum. We do not know what he is up to until this moment. The security information we have gathered shows that he is still deciding whether to respond or change his mind. But I think it is better he accepts because I do not think whether the president will again issue another amnesty in the near future”, said the official.
Meanwhile, Gordon Buay, who identifies himself as the rebel’s spokesperson said the peace talks between his group and the government team will start on Thursday.
“The peace talks between our group and the government team will take place tomorrow on Thursday. The government team arrived last Saturday in Nairobi and it is headed by Telar Ring Den, Adviser on Legal Affairs”, Buay told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday from Nairobi, Kenya.
The rebel official said the talks between the two sides will focus on; power-sharing arrangements; integration of rebel forces into the SPLA, police, prisons and disarmament demobilisation and rehabilitation of soldiers; promotion of national reconciliation and a campaign against tribalism; and what to be done to persuade Jonglei-based rebel leader David Yauyau to join the peace process and end his insurgency in and around Pibor county.
“After the talks are concluded, both teams will sign [a] NAIROBI AGREEMENT and shall proceed to Juba to celebrate the conclusion of the agreement. Upon arrival, the two teams will meet President Kiir, Minister of Defense and the Chief-of-General-staff of the SPLA army”, Buay explained in a statement.
South Sudan regularly accuses Sudan, which it separated from almost two years ago of backing rebel groups in its territory. This is denied by Khartoum, which itself accuses Juba of backing a coalition of rebel groups north of the border.
A group of over 2,000 South Sudanese rebels who had been active in Unity state crossed back into South Sudan from Sudan at the end of April declaring that they are committed to peace talks with the government in Juba without any preconditions or demands.
The group known as the South Sudan Liberation Army’s (SSLA) have been visited by in Mayom county by a delegation of advisers to President Kiir and officers from the national army – the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA).
Kiir renewed his offer of an amnesty to South Sudan’s rebel groups on April 25, which was publicly accepted by the SSLA the following day.
(ST)