South Sudan: Rivals Fail to Agree On Peace Talk Declaration Principles
9 March 2014
South Sudanese rivals failed to reach consensus on the declaration of
principle, which would be the basis of the ongoing negotiations, with the
government delegation blaming its rebels and mediators over the deadlock.
Nhial Deng Nhial, the leader of Juba's negotiating team told Sudan Tribune
on Saturday that his team, assembled by President Salva Kiir went to the
venue of talks with full authority and opened minds ready to bring peace to
the country in the interest of the government and its people.
"We went to the talks when we left Juba with opened minds and hearts to the
venue of negotiations. We had the full authority of the president to bring
peace because this is what our people want. We were therefore doing
everything within our capacity and power to negotiate the way forward. But
as you know, an aggrieved party always comes out with what it wants to be
addressed, our delegation was hoping to receive from the other side issues
they wanted to be discussed and then respond based on what we know as the
government," Nhial said.
"We wanted to hear from them the cause of what threw the country into crisis
because they are the aggrieved party but that did not happen," he added.
He could not, however, elaborate on what delayed caused the delays, although
the country's information minister Michael Makuei last week blamed the
mediators for failing to present them with the proposal to be discussed by
both warring parties.
Nhial attributed the failure to signing declaration of principles, which
would form the basis of negotiation to a proposal by the mediators seeking
inclusion of the seven former officials from the ruling party (SPLM) who
were arrested last year for involvement in an alleged coup in the capital,
Juba.
The seven were later released and are now being hosted by the Kenyan
government.
"Talks have been adjourned for two weeks to allow the two sides go for
consultation. They will resume on 20th march. We were expecting in the first
round to agree on the framework and the agenda of the negotiation but that
did not happen because of the issue of the seven officials the mediators
wanted to participate in the talks as a third block. You know I came back
here for consultation with our leadership and leaders from other political
parties to gather views about the proposal of the mediators to include these
officials," South Sudan's lead negotiator said.
"The outcome of these consultations was that talks should be between the two
parties. We returned to Addis and gave the views we collected from these
consultations in draft position paper to the mediators, who brought it up in
the last meeting but the other side rejected it," he added.
CEASEFIRE ISSUE
The other contentious issue, Nhia said, was the signing of a permanent
ceasefire agreement, and accused the SPLM -In-Opposition members of
protesting against the inclusion of some areas within the joint verification
and monitoring mechanism.
The lead negotiator, however,s said no nation can prosper without embracing
harmony.
"It is very important to note that no nation thrives on victory of factions,
but through ultimate reconciliation, which is what comrade president had
initiated. He is committed to ending this conflict," he said, adding that
now was the moment to turn difficult times into opportunities instead of
current hype in ethnic inclination that seek to promote cleavages that are
self-destructive.
The lead negotiator added that freedom brought by liberation struggle
defined the type of system of governance they want.
DENOUNCES VIOLENCES
"It is one of our values in the SPLM to thrive on a triple foundation of
liberty, justice and common decency. That is why it is said that democracy
is rather a contest of ideas and reasons and not a contest for survival
where politicians take it out violently among themselves in the name of
democracy. Only liberty, justice and common decency are true elements of
democracy," Nhial said.
He advised South Sudanese to desist from violence in the name of freedom
that comes with democracy.
"I believe this situation is not beyond redemption and so, should not be
allowed to set the national agenda of reconsideration of our unity and
nationhood," he stressed.