S. Sudan talks to resume Wednesday as rebels carry out fresh attacks
December 16, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA/JUBA) – As the civil war in South Sudan enters its second year, the government and rebel delegations are set to resume peace talks in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday.
IGAD chief negotiator Seyoum Mesfin announced the resumption of the nearly one-year-long process during a press conference on Monday.
He has called on the people of South Sudan to support to support peace efforts.
IGAD, the regional bloc mediating talks between the two warring factions, on Tuesday took rebel negotiators to Elilliy Hotel, the new venue of talks, where they will be staying until the new round of talks conclude.
Government negotiators will be hosted at the venue of the talks.
In a statement broadcast by SSTV in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Monday information minister Micheal Makuei Lueth said: “We are ready to go to Ethiopia for [the] resumption of peace talks with full mandate and authority from the president to return with peace if the other side is ready to engage in good faith and [shows a] willingness to end the conflict”.
At a news conference he gave on Tuesday, chief rebel negotiator Taban Deng Gai reiterated his team’s full commitment to engage in a genuine negotiations in line with rebel resolutions passed last week at the Pagak conference.
On Monday, Mesfin told reporters that the two parties agreed to form a government of between 24 to 29 ministers and to extend the attributions of states governors, even if they still disagree on the federal system.
At a consultative conference held last week, the rebel faction also decided to share power with Juba on condition that the would-be prime minister has full executive powers.
Juba has previously agreed to power-sharing arrangements if the rebel-appointed prime minister takes a non-executive position.
However, the rebels insisted on their position pointing that the premier must have the executive powers to ensure the implementation of the agreed reforms.
Gai said, “It is Riek who is calling for reforms not Salva so the person who is calling for reforms should be given the mandate” to execute the reforms.
“That is why the issue of the executive prime minister is very important,” he said.
Peter Adwok, another rebel official in charge of basic document and reorganisation, said the peace negotiation is a question of give and take.
“We want the prime minister to be head of government and the president head of state,” he said.
The chief mediator called the two parties to listen the voice of reason and to end hostilities.
“I appeal to all the citizens of South Sudan to not be drawn into a return to violence, retribution and destruction,” he said.
GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF VIOLENCE
The head of the rebel negotiating team has accused government forces of violating previously signed cessation of hostilities agreements by attacking and occupying rebel controlled areas.
“They have occupied nine [of our] places since last month mainly since 28th of last month till we speak,” Gai said.
According to the rebel official, government forces are now in occupation of southern part of unity state including the airport and other areas in Jongeli state where, he alleged, they have carried out bombardment and took a large number of cattle.
The violations committed after the signing of the implementation matrix, Gai said “will affect the sprite of the peace talks”.
“That is why we have asked IGAD and other concerned partners to ask Salva to withdraw his forces from these nine places,” he said.
Gai further warned the armed opposition forces will take military action to defend the people and regain the areas if the government refuse to withdraw its troops.
REBELS CLAIM NEW ATTACK ON JUBA-NIMULE ROAD
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the rebel military spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang, said a rebel force under the command of Gen Martin Kenyi, had attacked a convoy which he said was carrying food from Nimule to Juba.
This is the first time the rebel movement has officially admitted violating the cessation of hostilities agreement with the government amid international threats of sanctions and calls on the two warring parties to respect the agreement.
He said the remaining food which was in good condition was distributed to the local people in the area.
Koang further claimed that a government’s reinforcement was also defeated and ran back in “disarray” towards the capital, Juba, saying a Toyota pick-up truck mounted with heavy machine gun was destroyed in the second attack.
“The SPLM/SPLA have now closed the Nimule-Juba road to traffic,” he said.
Kenyi, who recruits Equatorians for a showdown with the government’s troops in their home region, is one of the senior military officers loyal to the rebel leader Machar.
The Nimule-Juba road is vital for the survival of the government as it is the only tarmacked road leading to a neighbouring country. Most of the imports to South Sudan of different kinds come from Uganda through its Nimule border.
The army spokesperson was not readily available to comment on the Juba-Nimule road incident.
However, military sources in Juba told Sudan Tribune that two drivers escaped from their trucks after armed men ambushed them along the Juba-Nimule road.
The ambush took place at around 11pm (local time) on Monday, as the truck drivers were heading to Uganda. The trucks were burned down and police in the area have launched an investigation into the incident.
(ST)