South Sudanese rival leaders did not hold face-to-face negotiations - rebel
spokesperson
May 10, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) - South Sudan's president Salva Kiir and his
political rival, Riek Machar, the former vice president who turned rebel
leader, did not hold the proposed face-to-face talks in Addis Ababa in order
to reach an agreement to end the nearly five-month old conflict in the
country, rebels spokesperson revealed on Saturday.
The two leaders however signed an agreement on Friday, 9 May, in Addis
Ababa, to end the crisis in South Sudan in which they also renewed the shaky
ceasefire.
Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that
the two principals did not hold direct talks as they only responded to the
draft agreement prepared by the mediation team who separately consulted with
them on the text.
"The two leaders did not hold direct talks. IGAD mediators consulted them
separately on the draft agreement. They only met and shook hands during the
signing of the roadmap agreement," Dak explained.
Both the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, and the US secretary
of state, John Kerry, during their last week visit to South Sudan said the
two top leaders would hold direct talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis
Ababa, for the first time in order to agree on the way forward.
Another diplomatic source at the venue of the peace talks told Sudan Tribune
that the guideline document was not directly negotiated by president Kiir
and rebel leader Machar, but was "imposed on the two leaders by the US
government which threatened sanctions against any party that would
disagree."
The document calls on the two parties to "immediately cease all hostile
activities within twenty four (24) hours of the signing of this agreement."
They also "agree that a transitional government of national unity will offer
the best chance for the people of South Sudan to take the country forward;
and that such a government shall oversee government functions during a
transitional period, implement critical reforms as negotiated through the
peace process, oversee a permanent constitution process, and guide the
country to new election."
Dak said the document serves as a roadmap for future negotiations, not only
between the two warring parties, but also with inclusion of other South
Sudanese stakeholders.
"The two parties with the participation of other South Sudanese stakeholders
will continue to negotiate on future governance in the country. A
transitional government shall be formed as a product of a negotiated
political settlement in order to implement that future agreement," he
further said.
The rebel group has been calling for restructuring of the state based on a
political agreement and a federal constitution before formation of a
transitional government.
The government however wanted a permanent ceasefire first followed by a
power-sharing arrangement with the rebels.
The two parties on 23 January signed an agreement of cessation of
hostilities but accused each other of violating the agreement as their
forces continued to fight.
Without effective independent monitoring and evaluation system of the two
rival forces on the ground, analysts say it may be difficult to respect the
ceasefire or determine violators.