S. Sudan peace talks resume amid renewed fighting
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
September 23, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s government and rebels led by former vice-president Riek Machar resumed peace negotiations in Ethiopia on Monday despite renewed fighting in some parts of the country.
Clashes last week in Upper Nile state between government and opposition forces reportedly led to the deaths of some 180 troops from both sides.
Regional mediators have expressed concern that the outbreak of fresh fighting could hamper the new round of peace talks aimed at ending the more than nine-month-long conflict in the young African nation.
The talks, which are being mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have yet to achieve a lasting political settlement to the crisis and have been subject to ongoing delays.
Both sides have expressed their commitment to respecting the truce agreement despite repeated violations of the ceasefire.
IGAD Monitoring and Verification Teams are due to launch an investigation in to which side triggered the latest outbreak of violence and submit a comprehensive report to mediators.
IGAD has now moved the venue of talks to Bahir Dar city, some 560km north of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, which was the previous venue.
Opening the peace talks, IGAD chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin warned the warring factions to stop stalling over procedural issues.
The Ethiopian diplomat noted that the crisis will not be resolved through hostility, but through dialogue, further urging both parties to demonstrate the political will to reach a comprehensive political settlement to the conflict.
“If you are committed to peace, you will not find it through the barrel of the gun, but around this table,” Mesfin said.
According to the state-run Ethiopia broadcasting corporation, Mesfin’s comments reflect the growing frustration among IGAD leaders and international diplomats at the failure of both sides to end the fighting
At a summit last month, IGAD leaders said they were prepared to take action against any side which attempts to obstruct ongoing efforts to achieve durable peace in South Sudan.
Mediators have also warned that those obstructing the peace process would be denied participation in future governance arrangements for South Sudan.
The US and the European Union have already slapped sanctions on top military leaders on both sides of the conflict.
(ST)