South Sudanese President Salva Kiir says that the government can work for peace by reintegrating ex-rebels and reconciling with rebel leaders and opposition politicians.

He told a crowd at independence day celebrations yesterday, “While formal negotiations will continue to go on in the African regional mediation, we must also continue to have internal dialogue amongst ourselves. As citizens of this nation, you are the primary stakeholders and we welcome your voices.”

“And I think you saw yesterday on the TV that there are some generals from what is called SPLM-IO who have come back to Juba, denouncing what they were doing and they have come. So, in this way we will be able to make peace by ourselves.”

Kiir's government has rejected a peace proposal made by the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The East African regional organizational previously mediated peace talks between the government and rebels. Its latest proposal has been rejected by both sides.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bashir Gbandi said last month, “This IGAD proposal is not the right approach to resolving the conflict. It does not represent the interest of the people of South Sudan. It encourages awarding rebellion and division of our people.”

SPLM-IO rebels who participated in a meeting with Kiir and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier this month have claimed that Kiir was not at all interested in discussing the IGAD proposal but rather only came to discuss the Arusha process.

Vice President James Wani Igga in his speech yesterday slammed Riek Machar for rejecting his reappointment as deputy SPLM chairman. Kiir had offered him this “olive branch” in the spirit of Arusha, Igga said.

Photo: President Kiir with SPLA Chief of Staff Paul Malong, 9 July 2015