South Sudan’s SPLM-Juba faction is planning a conference next week to allow delegations from various areas under its control to “give their opinion” on a proposed power-sharing deal with the rival SPLM-IO faction.

East African body IGAD recently adjourned the peace talks to allow both sides to undertake internal consultations on whether or not to accept a deal. The final structure of the power-sharing government is yet to be decided but the basic outlines of a potential agreement were discussed during recent high-level talks in Addis Ababa.

In particular, the last round of talks addressed some questions around the proposed role of the prime minister. Mediators have proposed that the SPLM-Juba faction leader Salva Kiir will retain the presidency while a member of SPLM-IO will take the prime ministership.

James Wani Igga, a senior member of SPLM-Juba and vice president of South Sudan, said on the UN radio service today that different stakeholders belonging to SPLM-Juba including women and youth representatives will convene in Juba to share their opinions on the talks.

“On Monday, there is going to be a conference here – a mini one – just to respond to the current positions at the talks….  we are calling different categories from the states to come there and let them us give us their opinion on what is the way forward.”