Twenty-one South Sudan political parties’ representatives on Thursday appealed to Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD to resume multi-stakeholders peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as soon as possible.
SPLM Secretary for Popular and Syndicate Organisations Acuil Malith Banggol read out a communiqu√© of the parties in a press conference, calling on the warring parties to consider citizens’ suffering in good faith to usher lasting peace in the country.
He added that timely resumption of the peace process would meet 60 days deadline for comprehensive agreement on government of national unity.
SPLMDC Chief Lam Akol Ajawin said the political parties are building and strengthening a taskforce to influence the ongoing peace talks in a big way.
He added that they would pursue peace negotiations in the next rounds as stakeholders to fix national interest as opposed to party or individual interest.
Dr Akol dismissed observations that IGAD is in league with South Sudan government, saying the body proved to be an independent and impartial mediator.
He observed that South Sudanese still have faith in IGAD to sign a peace deal within 60 days or slightly beyond the agreed timeframe.
Dr Akol said there is no worry about red line positions of the government and the SPLM/A in opposition, explaining that such positions are mere negotiation tactics.