China to hold consultative conference on S. Sudan in Khartoum
January 5, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A peace consultative conference on the political and security situation in South Sudan is expected to take place soon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, South Sudanese rebels have disclosed.
Machar’s spokesperson confirmed Khartoum consultative conference and said it was crucial to further chart a way forward in trying to end the war.
“A regional consultative conference on peace in South Sudan is expected to convene soon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum,” Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“This is crucial in consolidating the IGAD-mediated peace process in Addis Ababa,” he further said.
Dak said the forum was initiated by the Chinese government through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been mediating peace talks between the rebel group and president Salva Kiir’s government since January last year.
He disclosed that the Chinese envoy had delivered an official invitation to the opposition group, adding that Machar had already composed a 10-member team to attend Khartoum meeting led by the SPLM-IO chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on 12 January, he said.
The rebel leader’s spokesperson added that the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, is also expected to visit Sudan and attend the conference.
Dak further added the opposition leader and the Chinese envoy discussed the role Beijing should play in ending the war through its influence on Juba.
“We believe China can help in changing the current negative mindset in Juba. The regime is solely depending on Beijing and Khartoum for its survival, economically and even militarily. Our leadership believes China can positively play this card of influence and persuasion at its disposal in ending the war,” he said.
The meeting, he added, also touched on China’s expected role on development of South Sudan once peace is realised.
Beijing is the biggest dealer in oil production in South Sudan which provides 95% of revenues for the young nation. It also provides loans to the economically staggering east African country. The Asian nation also provided weaponry to Juba at some point.
The oil is also transported only through Khartoum’s pipeline and territory to Port Sudan, making the two countries extremely important to South Sudan.
The rebel group in September last year dispatched a delegation to China to persuade Beijing to concentrate on exerting efforts to help end the war and stop providing weapons to Juba.
(ST)