South Sudan denies dropping preconditions in talks with rebels
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March 25, 2014 (JUBA) - South Sudan's government delegation said on
Tuesday that its stance on talks with opposition forces "remains
unchanged", describing reports it had dropped demands for seven senior
political figures to be excluded from negotiations as "lies" .
JPEG - 16.6 kb
The leader of South Sudan's government delegation, Nhial Deng Nhial
(L), signs a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending conflict in the
country following negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa,
on 23 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Birahnu Sebsibe)
"The rumour mongers are spreading the lies that the government had
abandoned its position to allow [the] participation of the seven
former detainees. This is not true," spokesperson for the government
delegation Michael Makuei Lueth said on Tuesday in a statement
broadcast from the Ethiopian capital, from Addis Ababa, by the
state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV).
Dialogue resumed on Tuesday despite demands from the government that
talks be limited to representatives from the ruling party (SPLM) and
the South Sudanese army (SPLA); and the rebels - known as the SPLM/A
in Opposition, which was formed in December from army defectors and
disaffected politicians.
Lueth said the government had since reiterated its position during a
consultative meeting on Tuesday with envoys from the Intergovermental
Authority on Development (IGAD), which is mediating negotiations.
Lueth said the government was willing to consider the participation of
other groups in national dialogue inside the country once talks
between the two warring parties had concluded.
"The government position on the participation of the seven former
detainees has not changed and it will never change until a solution is
found. There will be an all inclusive dialogue after the conclusion of
the talks, they can participate in this forum if they want," said
Lueth.
The group of seven politicians were jailed in connection to their
alleged role in a 'coup' attempt in mid-December when political
tensions erupted in violence in the capital, Juba, before spreading to
key regions throughout the country.
Former vice-president turned rebel leader Riek Machar and his
supporters are accused of orchestrating the plot to overthrow the
government. They deny the allegations.
The seven SPLM leaders were later released in accordance with an
initial peace pact signed in Addis Ababa on 23 January to allow them
to participate in talks. However, the group decided to form a third
bloc rather than join Machar's delegation, despite having similar
political grievances.
The government delivered an official letter of protest to IGAD less
than 24 hours before the next round of talks were due to get underway
on 20 March, in which they threatened to boycott discussions unless
the group of seven are barred from taking part.
The January ceasefire deal has failed to halt fighting on the ground,
with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms of the
agreement.
The UN has warned that the country is facing a potentially
"catastrophic" humanitarian situation.
Nearly 5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance,
including 3.7 million who are at high risk of food insecurity, John
Ging, the director of UN humanitarian operations, told reporters in
New York following a visit to South Sudan last week.
(ST)
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