South Sudan lauds Geneva talks, opposes uncoordinated efforts
August 20, 2024 (JUBA)- South Sudan has commended the resumption of the Sudan peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, objecting to uncoordinated and separate initiatives likely to undermine efforts to end the raging war in the country.
The American-led mediation, backed by the Kingdom of Saudia, are meant to break hostilities and deliver humanitarian aid to areas hard hit by Sudan’s conflict.
South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister, Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah Goch told Sudan Tribune that changing places and agenda of the talks undermine great initiatives and create anxieties for a new negotiating platform in Geneva instead of resuming from where they had stopped.
“The acceptance of the parties to the conflict to go to the venue of the talks is a demonstration of leadership and commitment to ending the conflict through political arrangements and these needs sustained efforts, improving and integrating ideas and initiatives which are mutually reinforcing and complementing”, explained
Goch said peace talks are not events, but are processes on which efforts and initiatives are added to lay a strong foundation for a final resolution of the talks.
“Peace talks are not an event. They are processed. They must be coordinated and integrate all the ideas and initiatives. The challenges are when there are many initiatives with different objectives, not mutually complementary and reinforcing”, he explained.
The South Sudanese official said the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) supports all initiatives, including America, Egypt, United Nations, Arab League and all efforts of friendly countries and the region.
Analysts closely following the Sudan peace process argue that the process is filled with anxiety and uncertainty, citing the difference between the two parties.
The Sudanese military initially opposed the inclusion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the mediation. It also sought to know the agenda of the talks and placed conditions for resumption. The army after mounting pressure accepted to send a delegation but chose not to engage in direct talk, preferring indirect negotiation with the rival side, despite the presence in the vicinity and same country.
A separate arrangement dispatched a delegation to Cairo in Egypt for a meeting with the US and Saudi Arabia mediators, sidestepping and avoiding the involvement of partners and actors participating in the process or playing a role in the mediation.
But while the Sudanese army advocates mediation by Saudia Arabia and the US with the involvement of only Egypt, IGAD’s role in trying to cease hostilities with the deployment of a stabilization force remained at the fringe of influence.
(ST)