Delegations of the South Sudanese government and opposition announced today that they have reached understandings on the agenda and declaration of principles for the peace talks in the Ethiopian capital. 

Although the declaration has not yet been signed, representatives of both sides confirmed to Radio Tamazuj this evening that they have reached an understanding on the matter.

The talks are the third round since early January, though described as the 'second phase' because they are meant to have moved beyond the ceasefire attained in the first phase. Ethiopia's former foreign minister is the chief mediator at the talks.

Hussein Mar, the spokesman of the SPLM/A opposition faction led by Riek Machar, said the parties agreed on a basic agenda and a set of broad principles, without agreeing on any details. 

Mar told Radio Tamazuj that the declaration of principles addresses root causes of the crisis such as development, constitutional factors, human rights, justice and participation of the people.

“After this we’re going to look at the details. We’re going to discuss the causes of this war, and how to treat it, and we want to solve it peacefully and not by war,” said the former deputy governor of Jonglei.

Michael Makuei, spokesman of the government delegation, confirmed also that the delegations reached understandings on the declaration of principles and the implementation of cessation of hostilities.

He expected the talks to continue in order to attain to some broader understandings. The participants at the peace talks will discuss the implementation of the cessation of hostilities and the status of the remaining four detainees, among other issues.

Asked about the participation of a third party, the so-called ‘group of seven’ former detainees, Makuei said they are first looking to calm the war situation before considering other matters.

“We did not come to Addis to sit with any other party than the ones bearing arms against the government.  We are coming to stop the death and destruction happening in the country. We’re going to stop that and after we stop it possibly we will sit down to discuss other things,” he said.

In that context, according to Makuei, the government would be willing to meet with the civil society and also the group of seven. 

The delegation spokesman also noted that negotiations are ongoing with the Yau Yau rebel faction, which is based in eastern Jonglei State. He said currently the cessation of hostilities with Yau Yau is holding and there are no problems with the group.

David Yau Yau’s group, known also as the ‘Cobra Faction,’ signed a ceasefire with the government in January, after talks mediated by the Sudan Council of Churches.

File photo: Nhial Deng (left) and Taban Deng (right), chief negotiators of the two parties at South Sudanese peace talks in Addis Ababa (BBC)