Gen. Cirilo rejoins Malong-Pagan alliance, ready for peace talks
October 27, 2022 (JUBA) – The National Salvation Front (NAS) leader, Gen Thomas Cirillo Swaka has returned to the alliance of political and military leaders from which he withdrew in protest of undercover activities involving some of the groups’ leaders.
Former South Sudan army (SSPDF) chief, Gen Paul Malong Awan lauded the decision of Cirillo to return to the fold, saying the unity of the opposition was key and important.
Awan said they abandoned the umbrella South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) in favour of non-signatory groups.
“There is no strength in the division. We said let us unite not just for the sake of negotiations with the government but for the unity of the people and the leadership. This is very important and we all agreed. Now, comrade Pagan, myself, and Thomas Cirillo we are working together, doing one thing to bring peace to the country,” he explained.
The former chief of army staff said peace and stability will only be achieved in the country if the government was committed to a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflicts.
He said elections would not be held without a comprehensive peace agreement.
“Now there is war in Upper Nile. There is war in Equatoria and in Bahr el Ghazal. How can elections be held without peace? Who will vote? People are in refugee camps. They’re in internally displaced camps. They have left their homes. Census is not conducted. The constitution is not made. These are the priorities now,” he asked.
Awan, a former political ally of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said he and his group remain committed to the peace process, pointing to the recent decision to agree in Rome, Italy where they held consultative meetings ahead of resumptions of talks with Juba.
The consultative meeting, convened by the Saint Egidio Community, brought together South Sudan United Front (SSUF), NAS and Real SPLM of Pagan Amum as one group.
The new group had joined and is ready to welcome others before the negotiations begin.
Cirilo abandoned SSOMA in protest of parallel arrangements and talks which Awan and Pagan were undertaking with the government in Juba. This, sources from NAS told Sudan Tribune, would undermine the peace process and the integrity of the mediation.
But mediation brokered by the Rome-based Saint Egidio Community persuaded him to return to the fold and participated in the dialogue to prepare the opposition leaders for the next round of talks with a delegation of the transitional government of national Unity.
It is, however, not yet officially clear when the peace talks would officially resume.
Last week, the South Sudanese Presidential Affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin revealed that preparations were underway to resume the talks with all non-signatories.
President Kiir halted the Rome peace process in 2021 after accusing NAS of an attack that killed two catholic nuns along the Nimule-Juba Highway. In August, he announced that his administration would resume talks and urged hold groups to join the peace process.
(ST)