S. Sudanese president absent at Addis Ababa peace talks
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
August 13, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir did not show up Thursday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where he was expected to join the ongoing negotiations with the armed opposition led by ex-vice president, Riek Machar.
The two rival leaders were expected to join the talks on Thursday along with their delegations to narrow their differences and sign a peace deal before August 17 deadline.
It was, however, confirmed that the armed opposition leader, who was on an official trip to Pretoria, South Africa was present at the venue of the talks as requested by mediators.
Political analysts had earlier observed that the divisions among the top military officials from the opposition group (SPLM-IO) were likey to affect Machar’s position at the talks.
Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth and Maj. Gen. Peter Gatdet, who held positions as chief of general staff for logistics and as deputy chief of staff for operations respectively, were last month relieved of their duties by the former vice president-turned rebel leader.
The two former key rebel commanders have reportedly launched a new rebel faction which will fight against president Kiir’s government and the Machar-led resistance group.
The government in Juba earlier this week warned that the division within the rebels might hinder the peace process. The talks are being held under the autopsies of an international mediation team (IGAD Plus) led by the East African regional bloc (IGAD).
Sources claimed President Kiir had left for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi for undisclosed reasons. This could, however, not be independently verified by Sudan Tribune.
Fresh rounds of peace talks under the IGAD-Plus mediation resumed last week in Addis Ababa. The two sides have been given until 17 August deadline to strike a final peace agreement or face tougher measures from the international community.
However, observers say it is unlikely that the 17 August deadline would be met citing to the two sides’ failure to make a breakthrough on the main contentious issues particularly on power sharing during the last few days of negotiations.
The ongoing negotiations aimed to arrest South Sudan’s 20-month long conflict is said to be a final chance for the two conflicting South Sudanese parties to ink a peace deal.
Conflict in the world’s youngest nation erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of planning a coup, an allegation the latter denies. The conflict in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million people.
(ST)