South Sudan optimistic of peace deal with rebels

September 30, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government has expressed optimism at the prospect of reaching a peaceful settlement to the country’s ongoing conflict in which thousands of lives have been lost after political differences within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violent in mid-December last year.

Martin Majut Yak, a member of the government delegation attending peace talks being led by East African mediators from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), said direct negotiations between the warring parties and former political detainees had paved the way for “frank and open discussions” between the major stakeholders on a rotational basis.

“I can say that something will come out of these talks because the way these talks have started is encouraging in the sense that we have taken complete ownership of the process. Now it is us involved in direct discussions,” he said.

According to Yak, Deng Alor, a member of the group of former detainees, led talks on Monday followed by the government’s lead negotiator, Nhial Deng Nhial, who took over on Tuesday. The rebels’ chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, is due to take over in the next round.

“If we have started like this before we will have found [a] solution to this conflict already. But it was unfortunate that someone has had to shuttle between us when talks started,” said Yak in a statement broadcast by South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Tuesday.

He said parties have agreed on the principle of federalism as the system of governance, but that public views in the country to ensure inclusivity will have to be considered during transitional period.

“Discussions now are about governance, functions of the transitional government, its period and the competence of the prime minister,” said Yak.

“The rebels would like to reduce the competence of the president to a ceremonial head of state, so that the prime minister takes the executive powers. On our side we have said our system is presidential and if there is a need for a change, it has to be discussed in the country so that our people are given the opportunity to make a right choice,” he added.

Yak said that both sides were making progress, saying there was a possibility of reaching consensus over the matters.

IGAD-led talks have so far failed to reach a lasting political settlement to the more than nine-month-long crisis, having been hampered by repeated delays and disagreements between the main parties.

Earlier ceasefire agreements have also failed to be implemented on the ground.

The fighting in South Sudan has pitted government troops loyal to president Salva Kiir against rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar, who was sacked last July.

The conflict has reignited tribal tensions across the country, namely between the Dinka, to which Kiir hails, and Machar’s Nuer tribe.

(ST)