Juba optimistic of possible peace deal with rebel forces

November 6, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese officials said they are optimistic the country’s two rival leaders could reach a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict, unless rebels reject concessions made.

“I am optimistic and hopeful of the coming of peace which is just around the corner. The president has the approval of the leadership to bring peace,” Daniel Awet Akot, a senior member of South Sudan’s governing party (SPLM) said on Thursday.

Awet said president Salva Kiir and his former deputy-turned rebel leader, Riek Machar, would meet as part of efforts by East African leaders to broker a power-sharing deal to end over 10 months of fighting.

The key issue to be discussed at a summit in Ethiopia is the power of the proposed prime minister in the transitional government, he said.

Recent negotiations in Addis Ababa have focused on the make-up of an interim administration and state reform. Machar rejected an IGAD proposal in August that would have allowed his faction to nominate a prime minister who was to be approved by the president, but barred from elections to be held after three years.

South Sudan’s presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny separately told Sudan Tribune he was equally optimistic that the latest attempt by the regional leaders to broker a peace deal and end conflict, will produce something tangible, if the armed opposition drop their demands and accept offers from government and the mediators.

“I am very much optimistic that peace will come, unless the rebel refuses. The government is very much determined and this is indicated by the several concessions. Now what have remained of the contentious matters are small issues. 70% have been resolved,” said Ateny.

“It is this 30% of the contentious which we hope to be resolved at the summit,” he added.

The summit is expected to bring together leaders as well as heads of states and governments from the East African regional bloc (IGAD).

A South Sudanese diplomat in Addis Ababa told Sudan Tribune on Thursday, that president Kiir was already in Ethiopia, to its prime minister Haile Mariam Desalegn. Also expected at the summit were Kenyan’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Sudan’s Omar El-Bashir as well as leaders from Djibouti and Somalia.

Analysts say majority of the opposition supporters are strongly opposed to President Salva participating in any transitional government, fearing his presence could undermine accountability and recipe for another future violence, should reforms be ignored.

(ST)