NAS says not responsible for deadlock in South Sudan peace talks

November 22, 2021 (JUBA) – The leadership of the opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) has dismissed as “false and “baseless” accusations that its forces are responsible for violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed with the South Sudan government.

The hold-out group signed the cessation of hostilities agreement with the Juba government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on December 21, 2017.

NAS, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, said its forces are not responsible for the violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), which led to the suspension of the Rome talks, mediated by the Sant’Egidio community.

“This accusation is totally false and baseless. The regime is desperately using blame games to try to absolve itself from the crimes it has been committing and continues to commit against the people of South Sudan,” noted the statement.

The opposition group accused the regime of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir of being responsible for the stalled Rome peace initiative after it allegedly declined to agree on the fundamental issues on the Declaration of Principles.

“It should be known that the Kiir regime is not willing to accept political discussions on root causes of the conflict in South Sudan, but instead wants approaches that aim to reinforce and entrench their corrupt and ethnic regime,” it stated.

Meanwhile, NAS, which is part of the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), further reiterated its firm commitment to the Rome peace initiative.

“The Leadership of NAS assures its members and the people of South Sudan of its unwavering commitment to pursue the struggle of the downtrodden masses until the aspirations of the people are realized,” further stressed the statement.

The government and the hold-out group signed the Rome Declaration in January 2020.

(ST)