China to hold consultative conference on S. Sudan in Khartoum
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January 5, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A peace consultative conference on the
political and security situation in South Sudan is expected to take
place soon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, South Sudanese rebels
have disclosed.
JPEG - 43.6 kb
SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar (L) shakes hands with special Chinese envoy
for Africa Zhong Jianhua in Addis Ababa, on 5 January 2015, (ST)
The matter was discussed by the leader of the SPLM-In-Opposition Riek
Machar and Chinese special envoy for Africa, Ambassador Zhong Jianhua
in a meeting held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Monday.
Machar’s spokesperson confirmed Khartoum consultative conference and
said it was crucial to further chart a way forward in trying to end
the war.
“A regional consultative conference on peace in South Sudan is
expected to convene soon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum,” Machar’s
spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“This is crucial in consolidating the IGAD-mediated peace process in
Addis Ababa,” he further said.
Dak said the forum was initiated by the Chinese government through the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been
mediating peace talks between the rebel group and president Salva
Kiir’s government since January last year.
He disclosed that the Chinese envoy had delivered an official
invitation to the opposition group, adding that Machar had already
composed a 10-member team to attend Khartoum meeting led by the
SPLM-IO chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on 12 January, he said.
The rebel leader’s spokesperson added that the Chinese foreign
minister, Wang Yi, is also expected to visit Sudan and attend the
conference.
Dak further added the opposition leader and the Chinese envoy
discussed the role Beijing should play in ending the war through its
influence on Juba.
“We believe China can help in changing the current negative mindset in
Juba. The regime is solely depending on Beijing and Khartoum for its
survival, economically and even militarily. Our leadership believes
China can positively play this card of influence and persuasion at its
disposal in ending the war,” he said.
The meeting, he added, also touched on China’s expected role on
development of South Sudan once peace is realised.
Beijing is the biggest dealer in oil production in South Sudan which
provides 95% of revenues for the young nation. It also provides loans
to the economically staggering east African country. The Asian nation
also provided weaponry to Juba at some point.
The oil is also transported only through Khartoum’s pipeline and
territory to Port Sudan, making the two countries extremely important
to South Sudan.
The rebel group in September last year dispatched a delegation to
China to persuade Beijing to concentrate on exerting efforts to help
end the war and stop providing weapons to Juba.
(ST)
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