South Sudan rejects Troika involvement in peace talks

March 31, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan has opposed the direct involvement of United Nations Security Council and the Troika countries in the next round of peace talks.

“We don’t need the Troika countries and the participation of the United Nations in the next IGAD-plus peace mediation because they are the very people and countries demanding sanctions against the people and the government of South Sudan and for that reason the UN Security Council passed the framework and resolution on sanctions based on the Troika recommendation,” government spokesperson Michael Makuei said on Tuesday.

He said the UN and the Troika countries will continue in their capacities as observers, adding, “but we will not allow them to sit at the negotiation table”.

The regional mediators had proposed an IGAD-Plus structure that will bring in other African regions, including South Sudan development partners such as African Union, the UN, China and the Troika nations (United Kingdom, United States and Norway).

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek Machar on Friday failed to agree on a permanent peace deal, despite pledging to end the conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people since it broke out in December 2013.

Negotiations between South Sudan’s warring parties are expected to resume in April, according to a new plan, which was recently unveiled by the Ethiopian foreign ministry.

(ST)

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