South Sudan rebel group reiterates commitment to ceasefire deal
November 27, 2022 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese rebel group has reiterated its commitment to the 2017 cessation of hostilities agreement, a week after the Juba government suspended talks mediated by the Rome-based Sant’Egidio community.
“The leadership of South Sudan United Front/Army led by Gen. Paul Malong Awan in particular and as a member of armed groups alliance has learned the wild propaganda labelled against oppositions umbrella by Marial Benjamin in statement of their withdrawal from Rome talks dated 21 of November claiming NSSSOG [Non-Signatory South Sudan Opposition Group] are using the Rome peace initiative to avail good time ahead of organising themselves to lunch a fortified operations against government,” the group said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
SSUF/A said it was not the first time President Salva Kiir was pulling out of such talks and questioned the South Sudanese leader’s commitment to restoration of genuine peace.
“Moreover, SSUF/A along with others in NSSSOG umbrella, have no any intention to wage a war against Juba regime as asserted. It’s just a sugar-coated allegations imposed on us to portray our image in front of the international community to blackmail the Rome peace talks,” further stressed SSUF/A’s statement.
It added, “In addition, we are urging the peace guarantors and the general public to treat those accusations as unfounded and baseless allegations”.
South Sudan’s government announced that it has withdrawn from peace negotiations with rebel groups, accusing them of using the talks “to buy time as they prepare for war,”
In a November 21 letter addressed to the Sant’ Egidio, Presidential Affairs Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the government suspended its participation in the Rome Peace talks until further notice.
“While we have been preparing to engage in serious dialogue with Non-Signatory South Sudan Opposition Group to bring lasting peace to our country, it has come to our attention that this group is using these talks to buy time as they prepare for war,” he wrote.
The Sant’Egidio community had invited the NSSOG together and members of the National Consensus Forum (NCF) for consultative meetings in Rome on November 28.
(ST)