Juba to host next SPLM reunification meeting

February 20, 2015 (JUBA) – The next round of South Sudan ruling party (SPLM) dialogue will take place in Juba, a member of Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party said.

CCM’s secretary general, Abdulrahman Kinana, said President Salva Kiir expressed his commitment to implement the matrix signed this week in Arusha, Tanzania.

“The processes will continue in Juba. The reunification of SPLM family will now start in Juba,” Kinana told reporters in Juba on Friday, without divulging further details.

CCM is currently mediating talks between the three South Sudan-ruling party factions.

The Arusha talks are intended to unite the three SPLM factions, including the armed opposition led by Riek Machar and the former political detainees led by Pagan Amum.

The CCM-led talks are parallel to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediated talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The SPLM factions signed a reunification agreement on 21 January and committed themselves by signing implementation matrix this week. The matrix gave a 45-day ultimatum for implementation of the agreement.

(ST)