Post date: Jan 04, 2014 9:7:51 PM
Peace talks between teams representing the warring parties in South Sudan officially open in Ethiopia.
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (JANUARY 4, 2014) (REUTERS) - South Sudanese rebels and government negotiators will hold their first face-to-face talks on Sunday (January 5), after several days of delay, to thrash out a ceasefire deal and end weeks of ethnic fighting in the world's youngest state.
At a ceremonial opening to the talks at a luxury hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababaon Saturday (January 4), the leaders of the rival delegations hugged, but the faltering start to the negotiations has dampened hopes for a swift end to the violence."With the current mass killing going on in the country and political detention, there can be no conducive atmosphere for peace talks. Therefore, we are asking for the following. The release of political detainees and accord them free movement and political space to join the current peace talks in Addis Ababa; withdrawal of Ugandan military forces fromSouth Sudan, lifting of state of emergency throughout the country; humanitarian access to the internally displaced persons throughout the country, free access of humanitarian organisations and UN Human Rights Council to investigate atrocities and critical issues pertaining to human rights abuses," said General Tabang Deng Gai, leader of the rebel delegation.
Niag Deng Nial, representing the South Sudanese government, struck a more conciliatory note.
"As we begin the talks the delegation of the government of the Republic of South Sudanis ready to discuss ways and means that would bring a speedy end to the current armed conflict in the country. We envisage a rapid agreement of the cessation of hostilities and cease fire arrangements in order to create a conducive atmosphere for addressing outstanding political issues. Our people have suffered a lot during the struggle for our independence and they should not suffer again in our hands," he said.
The run-up to the talks has been overshadowed by continued clashes between President Salva Kiir's SPLA government forces and rebels loyal to former vice presidentRiek Machar centred around the strategically located town of Bor.
The talks will focus on when and how to roll out the ceasefire that both sides have agreed to in principle, though neither has indicated a start date.
The head of the rebel delegation in Addis Ababa, Taban Deng Gai, repeated Machar's call for the release of several senior politicians allied to Machar and for the state of emergency imposed by Kiir in two states of South Sudan to be lifted.
Dina Mufti, spokesman for Ethiopia's foreign ministry, told Reuters the direct talks would begin at 1200 GMT on Sunday.
Western and regional powers, many of which supported the negotiations that led toSouth Sudan's independence from Sudan in 2011, are pressing for a peace deal, fearing the new fighting could slide into civil war and destabilise east Africa.
Clashes have already killed more than 1,000 people, driven 200,000 from their homes and rattled oil markets.