The final phase of the South Sudan peace talks started in Addis Ababa yesterday. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators have said these are the last and final negotiations between the two parties.
The final phase of the South Sudan peace talks started in Addis Ababa yesterday. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators have said these are the last and final negotiations between the two parties.
In his opening remarks, the chief mediator, Seyoum Mesfin urged both sides to adhere to their commitments to end the conflict, in this last chance for the warring parties to sign a final peace agreement.
President Salva Kiir and Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar signed a agreement in February which committed the two leaders to this round of talks, and committing to conduct the negotiations themselves.
The government delegation spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth stressed the government’s commitment to what has been agreed with the opposition to find a lasting solution to South Sudan’s crisis
If the talks fail again, it is unclear whether IGAD will commit to mediate another round. It is also unclear what steps the international community will take to deal with such an eventuality.
According to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) official Dhieu Mathok, yesterday, the two delegations of the two warring parties as well as other stakeholders held consultations in Addis Ababa without the presence of mediators in preparation for the start of the talks.
Dhieu, the head of the rebel group’s External Relations Committee, said that the consultations were aimed at setting an agenda for the talks, adding that the negotiations will be done via three negotiating committees: governance, economy and security.
In a statement, the European Union, who have funded the talks being mediated by IGAD called on all the two parties not to “miss another opportunity,” to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
The EU statement noted that both Riek Machar and Salva Kiir committed to be present for the duration of the negotiations.
“We expect them to do so,” the statement added. “The EU calls on President Salva Kiir and Rebel leader Dr Riek Machar not to miss another opportunity to deliver on their commitments.”
“The recent decision of the Government of South Sudan to modify the constitution to extend the mandate of the President and the National Legislature must not be used as a reason to delay reaching a peace agreement beyond 5 March,” added the statement.
The same statement expressed concern over the complete disregard by the parties for respect of fundamental human rights, and called on the African Union to publicly report on human rights abuses.
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