Juba invites Sudanese political groups for consultative talks
October 30, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan says it plans to hold consultative talks for civilian political groups from Sudan as part of efforts to prepare grounds for future talks on political and military issues.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday, South Sudan’s presidential adviser on national security affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime confirmed that the consultative meetings will take place in the capital, Juba.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit has a clear vision for a comprehensive peace in Sudan and has been consistent in advocating for an inclusive and comprehensive approach in the talks”, said Manime.
He said the upcoming meeting is part of efforts to forge understanding and build trust and confidence among civilian groups of leaders in Sudan on issues pertinent to the current situation in the country.
“You know that Sudan is in a situation of war which has cut people from talking with one another. Talking is very important and this is the reason his excellency has been inviting the Sudanese leaders to encourage them to talk. It will also be an opportunity to rally support for Jeddah peace talks, building on the positive efforts and initiative undertaken by civilian force”, stressed Manime.
separately, South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar equally expressed support for the inclusive political process in Sudan in order to realise a common aspiration for peace and stability in the country.
He pledged in unwavering personal support of the transitional government of national unity.
The leader of South Sudan’s main opposition group (SPLM-IO) described Sudan as an important player and actor in regional and international affairs, citing the need for restoration of peace and stability.
South Sudan’s minister of Foreign Affairs, James Pitia Morgan said President’s Kiir are meant to bridge and close a gap of a deeply divided approach on critical issues.
Some international members are already looking for an opportunity to leverage the process at the expense of an inclusive approach to restore peace and stability.
South Sudan is one of the countries in the region with outlined an initiative to establish a lasting cease-fire, create safe humanitarian corridors for aid delivery, and build a dialogue framework that would include all Sudanese political parties and figures. It facilitated and held last week a two-day conference bringing together representatives of several armed and non-political groups who participated in negotiations that culminated in the 2020 Juba peace. The implementation of the agreement was interrupted by the removal of a hybrid civil-military that formed a transitional government in 2021.
Sudan has been rocked by violence since April 15, when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces reached the boiling points and escalated into open fighting. The conflict has killed many lives, caused huge destructions and displaced millions of others while sending others to displaced camps and restricting others to civilian homes in Khartoum and other towns.
Leaders from Sudan’s seven neighboring countries have been advocating an initiative seeking to resolve the deepening conflict in the African country. several initiatives were rolled out, with US-Saudia Arabia running a parallel initiative counterpart to the African Union, Arab leagues, Egypt and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc of eight member countries.
(ST)