South Sudan hopeful of peace deal with rebels at next talks

July 16, 2015 (JUBA) – Senior members of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Thursday expressed optimism of the possibility of reaching a peace agreement in the next round of talks with armed opposition groups allied to the country’s former vice president-turned rebel leader, Riek Machar.

South Sudan’s foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin said he was optimistic peace would soon return to the country, if the armed opposition fighters showed commitment and reciprocate with the same commitment and willingness to make compromises similar to what government made.

“Peace is coming. From day one, the government has never shown any indication of unwillingness to bring peace and end this crisis. The government made it very clear that it was ready to negotiate with the SPLM in opposition and made bold decisions and compromises. This was because of the commitment of the president to end this conflict so that peace and stability return to the affected areas”, said Marial.

“If the SPLM in opposition had shown commitment and reciprocated in the same manner the government and the president exhibited leadership, we would have signed the peace long time ago,” the foreign affairs minister exclusively told Sudan Tribune Thursday.

He said the two warring parties could still close existing gaps in the next round of talks.

“What remains is just 10% of the issues which are contentious but the 90% of the issues have been resolved. It is this 10% which we want to close”, stressed Marial.

Meanwhile, the secretary general of South Sudan’s governing party, Pagan Amum, said he was hopeful peace will be signed in the next round of talks with the armed opposition.

According to Amum, a team led by former cabinet affairs minister, Deng Alor Kuol has been consulting with armed opposition leadership on how they could close the gaps on contentious issues, specifically federalism, security arrangements, compensation and most importantly on the structure of proposed interim government of national unity.

“We are expecting IGAD mediators to call on all the parties on the 21st or 22nd of this month, July, and then we are expecting the signing of a peace deal in this period,” he said.

“My message to all listeners and the people of South Sudan is that this is the time for us to stop the war and we work together for peace and bring about peace to our country,” Amum said during a talkshow hosted by the United States-sponsored Eye Radio.

(ST)