Kiir, Machar's teams meet at symposium on Thursday

By Taddeo Bwambale

Peace talks to end fighting in South Sudan have been further delayed, with the IGAD mediators instead calling for a two-day ‘multi-stakeholder symposium.’

The symposium which opens on Thursday for at the African Union Commission offices in Addis Ababa will bring together delegations representing President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Dr Riek Machar and several other stakeholders.

In a media advisory on Wednesday, IGAD mediators said the symposium was expected to bring together up to 150 delegates from the government, opposition, political parties, faith based groups, civil society and traditional leaders,.

The IGAD-led Mediation team said the talks were meant to initiate the inclusive phase of the mediation process based on a consensual, round table, multi-party dialogue.

The symposium will feature presentations on each of the key areas for negotiations, allow participants to informally explore each issue with experts, and facilitate sharing of experience in peace processes and transition arrangements,” the statement said.

The mediators will agree on areas of common ground on each issue to advance future negotiations.

Renowned international experts will attend the symposium to provide counsel on key agenda items of the ongoing mediation process and develop ideas to inform subsequent negotiations.

The symposium comes a month after Kiir and Machar signed the Agreement on Resolving the Crisis on 9 May in Addis Ababa.

The agreement signified a commitment by the two Parties to seek a political and inclusive solution to the crisis in South Sudan.

The two leaders pledged to freeze all forces in their current locations, and negotiate on a transitional government of national unity, among others.

However, hours after the agreement was signed, both Kiir and Machar’s forces were engaged in fighting in parts of South Sudan, denting their commitment to resolve the conflict amicably.

The parties agreed to a more inclusive, representative and forward looking process.

Earlier this year, the next phase of peace talks that had commenced on April 28 was adjourned for two weeks. Mediators were meant to meet for the next phase of the mediation process on the June 4.

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