South Sudan's main opposition party rejects president's call for dialogue
Opposition SPLM-IO dismisses Kiir's dialogue offer due to arrests and ongoing violence.
JUBA: South Sudan’s main opposition party has dismissed a presidential call for dialogue to avoid the country slipping back into civil war due to stalled peace talks.
Pal Mai Deng, a spokesperson for the opposition SPLM-IO, stated that President Salva Kiir must release political and military leaders of the SPLM-IO who are in detention to demonstrate his sincerity regarding dialogue.
On Wednesday, Kiir reopened parliament and emphasized the need for unity and national reconciliation, asserting that the ‘doors of peace remain open.’ He urged an end to ongoing conflict, stating that the suffering of South Sudan’s people should not be prolonged by continued rejection of dialogue.
The current situation remains tense due to Vice President Riek Machar's placement under house arrest following attacks on army bases in March.
Several SPLM-IO opposition members have fled the country fearing arrests.
In 2018, South Sudan signed a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, resulting in nearly 400,000 fatalities.
SPLM-IO claims Kiir’s appeal for dialogue is ‘paradoxical and insincere’ due to the continued arrest of opposition officials and attacks on opposition forces by government troops.
The CEPO civil society group warns that Machar's detention has made ongoing talks impractical.
They argue that his absence in government affairs has resulted in an unbalanced government of national unity.
Last month, the United Nations warned that the 2018 peace agreement was on the verge of collapse due to escalating violence, political repression, and foreign military involvement.
Pal Mai Deng, a spokesperson for the opposition SPLM-IO, stated that President Salva Kiir must release political and military leaders of the SPLM-IO who are in detention to demonstrate his sincerity regarding dialogue.
On Wednesday, Kiir reopened parliament and emphasized the need for unity and national reconciliation, asserting that the ‘doors of peace remain open.’ He urged an end to ongoing conflict, stating that the suffering of South Sudan’s people should not be prolonged by continued rejection of dialogue.
The current situation remains tense due to Vice President Riek Machar's placement under house arrest following attacks on army bases in March.
Several SPLM-IO opposition members have fled the country fearing arrests.
In 2018, South Sudan signed a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, resulting in nearly 400,000 fatalities.
SPLM-IO claims Kiir’s appeal for dialogue is ‘paradoxical and insincere’ due to the continued arrest of opposition officials and attacks on opposition forces by government troops.
The CEPO civil society group warns that Machar's detention has made ongoing talks impractical.
They argue that his absence in government affairs has resulted in an unbalanced government of national unity.
Last month, the United Nations warned that the 2018 peace agreement was on the verge of collapse due to escalating violence, political repression, and foreign military involvement.
