Juba cautiously welcomes IGAD’s power sharing agreement
June 12, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir, is consulting members of his ruling party (SPLM), opposition groups allied to the government and other stakeholders before responding to the peace proposal drafted by mediators, his office said.
“Because it [the proposal] when into an area that was not expected especially on giving the power sharing in three states of Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei,” said Ateny, referring to the clause that hand South Sudanese rebels of the three states affected the war.
The proposal gives President Kiir’s government 53% at national level, 33% to former vice president, Riek Machar and 14% shared between former detainees and other political parties. In Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states where the rebellion is active, Machar takes 53%, government with 33% and 14% to other parties and former detainees,” he said Friday.
The latest attempt, known as IGAD plus when other five African countries are included as well the Trioka countries (United States, Norway and United Kingdom), the European Union and China, held a consultative meeting early this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Government negotiators, led Nhial Deng Nhial, returned to Juba on Thursday and went into closed doors with President Kiir and members of his government.
“And so, when the president looks into the document he calls extraordinary joint meeting of the political bureau, the secretariat of the SPLM and other members of political parties plus members of the cabinet,” Ateny said, but did not elaborate further on the matter.
“They came yesterday, consulted and they have made some deliberations that are going to be made public in the next few days to come,” added the presidency spokesman.
IGAD is yet to officially announce when the South Sudanese peace talks would resume.
(ST)