James Andrea, a member of the political group headed by Martin Tako Moi, accused the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of imposing Lam Akol on the political parties’ delegation at the peace talks.

Andrea, who is also the chairman of the South Sudan Labour Party, rejected what he termed “direct supervision” by IGAD after the regional bloc asked Martin Tako Moi, who claimed to represent the political parties, to leave the negotiations.

Tako is a deputy minister in the cabinet of SPLM-Juba leader Salva Kiir. Andrea is part of Tako's faction claiming to represent the Political Parties Leadership Forum (PPLF), a group of non-SPLM parties at the peace talks.

Andrea and Tako arrived in Ethiopia late for the new round of peace talks in Bahir Dar because IGAD did not send them airplane tickets following wrangling within the PPLF.

IGAD Special Envoy Lazaro Sumbeiywo recently confirmed that they received two different lists of delegates claiming to represent the PPLF, prompting the mediators to ask Tako to leave the peace talks in Bahir Dar.

Up until now, Lam Akol, who heads South Sudan's largest opposition party, has been considered the main leader of the PPLF. However, SPLM-Juba security agents have prevented him from leaving South Sudan to participate in the peace talks.

Andrea accused IGAD of interfering with the internal affairs of South Sudan.

“As head of a political party I will not accept Dr. Lam be imposed on us,” he swore.

Andrea said that IGAD should not give orders to the PPLF to sit again for the selection of representatives.

“IGAD is not the head of PPLF, so why should we invite them to attend the selection of political parties?” he asked.

He further disclosed that they will raise a complaint to the government through the political parties’ council on the matter.

Thus far, talks are continuing with no participation by the PPLF.

File photo: Martin Tako at a UNEP event in Thailand, 2013

Related:

South Sudan peace talks continue in Ethiopia

IGAD mediators ask Martin Tako to leave South Sudan peace talks

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