S. Sudan warns against imposition of peace deal with rebels
August 5, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has warned against imposing on them a peace deal with the armed opposition faction of former vice president, Riek Machar.
“The government welcomes any support from members of the international community. We need their help so that this conflict is brought to an end in order to bring peace and stability to the country, to the region and to the international community since we are part of the community of the nations of the world”, Marial said on Wednesday.
“This can be achieved through encouraging peaceful dialogue. Our people have paid the price of this senseless war but they are looking for a lasting peace. They want peace which they will accept and own implementation, not imposed peace”, he added.
Marial argued that it would be unwise if the peace was imposed on the parties to the conflict, instead of encouraging them to engage in peaceful and meaningful negotiation.
“A durable peace should not be done in a rush,” said the foreign affairs minister, adding ” If the international community supports imposition of peace, they will not have done justice to our people and it is unwise to support such a polarising proposal”.
The minister was reacting to remarks attributed to the United States President Barrack Obama in which he said Kiir and Machar “squandered” the goodwill for the young nation.
Obama warned that the international community would be forced to roll out a new plan to bring peace if leaders of two main warring parties to the conflict failed to strike a deal.
“If they miss that target then I think it is going to be necessary for us to move forward with a different plan, and recognize that those leaders are incapable of creating the peace that is required,” Obama said on Tuesday, while speaking after a meeting with the United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon in the White House’s Oval Office.
Talks between South Sudan’s warring factions are due to resume on Friday with a final peace agreement expected to be reached on 17 August, according to the mediators.
(ST).