A two day meeting bringing together representatives from the government, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)-in-opposition, and members of the G-10 group of former political detainees and has kicked off in Khartoum, Sudan.
A two day meeting bringing together representatives from the government, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)-in-opposition, and members of the G-10 group of former political detainees and has kicked off in Khartoum, Sudan.
The Chinese government initiated the talks to supplement the ongoing peace efforts led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Arusha intra-party talks spearheaded by Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Mawien Makol Arik told media that the meeting kicked off smoothly. The government team is led by Foreign Affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin.
“They have started this morning and the meeting is going smoothly. We will know the outcome at the end of the day. Our delegation is there in the meeting with the rebels under the provision of the Chinese and IGAD members,” he said yesterday.
The agenda is to bring the two parties closer after their differences widened even after the IGAD mediators gave them time to go and consult their constituencies.
“The Chinese thought that they have something to add, to bring the two parties together so that the peace is achieved,” said Arik.
The Chinese government is the biggest dealer in oil production in South Sudan and also provides loans to the government. However, it has denied that its current involvement is motivated by its economic interests in South Sudan.
Meanwhile an IGAD Heads of States and government summit is scheduled for 18th January 2015.
President Salva Kiir and his counterparts from IGAD member states are expected to attend the consultative conference, focusing on the South Sudan crisis.
It is not clear whether opposition leader Riek Machar will attend the meeting. Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom told media they hope that the current deadlock between the warring sides will be broken.
Adhanom said that before the Christmas break late last year, both sides were asked to consult with their constituencies and report back on a few sticky issues that are yet to be resolved.
Rather than make things easier, it seems the consultations have widened the gap between the warring parties, causing alarm among regional and the international community that the war in South Sudan may not end soon. Hardliners from both parties seem to be the driving factor for dragging of feet by the two sides.
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS
