S. Sudan rebels gather for consulations ahead of peace talks
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
April 15, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Delegates from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) participating in a consultative leadership meeting have started to arrive in the rebel-controlled Pagak area near the Ethiopian border.
In an email exchange, Dickson Gatluak, deputy spokesperson and press assistance to the rebel group, told Sudan Tribune that political and military officials have gathered in Pagak for the highly anticipated opposition consultation conference.
Gatluak said he was informed by military spokesperson Col. Lony T Ngundeng, who was among the first team to arrive in Pagak, that the security situation at the venue is calm and denied any further delay to the start of consultations.
“Despite government’s threat last week to launch attack on the area in order to disrupt the meeting for SPLM/IO members, the security situation is 100% normal,” said Ngundeng.
Speaking on satellite phone from pagak headquarters, Ngundeng said that the all the necessary arrangements are in place and Mai-wut county authority is ready to receive rebel chairman Riek Machar at any time.
In a related development, SPLM members from across the world are currently proceeding to Pagak ahead of the arrival of the former vice-president.
SPLM/IO office for Canada representative Lual Mathok Diing says they are hoping to see a fair and just peace that would not take the youngest nation back to war again.
Diing said the people of South Sudan deserve to see a peace agreement that would meet their demands but not just peace.
“I am calling the entire world and South Sudanese parties particularly to double their efforts and commitment in the next round of talks in order to rescue this county before it slides to be among failed states,” he said.
The rebel conference is expected to kick off by the end of this week. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for 10 April, but was adjourned due to logistical problems.
(ST)