South Sudan talks resume Monday

By Taddeo Bwambale

Peace talks to end the conflict in South Sudan will resume on Monday, the IGAD mediation team has disclosed.

In a statement on Thursday, IGAD chief, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim confirmed that both parties would resume negotiations on February 10 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The envoy said IGAD Special Envoys had sent invitation letters to the Parties on the commencement of the second round of the negotiations.

The mediators have also dispatched the advance team of the IGAD Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to South Sudan to conduct an assessment of the situation there.

According to the statement, the mediation team will visit all capitals of the IGAD Member States to seek their views on the direction of the peace talks.

IGAD brings together six countries of the Horn of Africa region which are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

The second round of the mediation that will focus on political dialogue and national reconciliation, the statement said.

The mediation team is led by IGAD special envoy, Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin.

Seven South Sudan detainees were last week released by President Salva Kiir and received by President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

The IGAD special envoys met with the detainees to seek their position on mediation efforts to end the conflict that started in December.

“They were appreciative of the IGAD initiative and the practical achievement made so far by the envoys, including the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement,” the statement said.

The resumption of talks comes amidst claims of violation of a January 23 ceasefire between the government and rebels.