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IGAD-LED negotiators have adjourned peace talks to end fighting in South Sudan but expressed “disappointment” at South Sudan leaders for failing to honour a cessation of hostilities agreement. Talks are expected to resume on October 16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IGAD announced in a statement yesterday. “The mediation team expresses its disappointment on the lack of the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreements and all its implementation modalities including the Matrix,” mediators stated.
“The war must stop and the war option must be abandoned. The only viable solution to this crisis is peaceful political negotiation around the table.”
The mediators urged the parties to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistances to reach the people who are in dire need of them; and to cooperate with and support free movements of all personnel working for Humanitarian Organisations.
The negotiations have now adjourned to enable the stakeholders to undertake further consultations on the relevant issues.
During the break in the peace talks, the IGAD Special Envoys will the leaders of IGAD, South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, his adversary, Dr Riek Machar and key parties to the talks.
The mediation team decried the absence of representatives of other Political Parties during the talks saying it was “harmful” to the inclusivity of the process.
The mediators, however, said there had been “substantial progress” in determining the arrangements necessary to implement a transitional government of national unity.
China, Japan, Denmark and Netherlands are among countries that are supporting the peace process, alongside IGAD, the African Union (AU) and the UN.
The mediators urged parties to honour the peace agreements signed by the rival factions so far in order to save the lives of the people and the nation without further delay. — Newvision.co.ug.
Online Reporter