Holdout opposition groups, the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), and a government delegation have resumed talks mediated by the Community of Saint’Egidio in Rome, Italy yesterday.

Kwaje Lasu, the Interim Secretary-General for the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), told Radio Tamazuj this week that discussions will revolve around cessation of hostilities and a declaration of principles.

“We are going to continue with talks based on what we left last time in October some of which is the recommitment for the cessation of hostilities. We aim to discuss the declaration of principles which will be a guiding document that is showing the root causes of crises in South Sudan,” Lasu said. “We are very hopeful again to meet and engage with our colleagues and brothers in the government.”

The SSOMA official also said two of the three members of the SSOMA leadership council Paul Malong Awan and Pagan Amum will not participate in the talks until internal differences are resolved.

“They will not be part of the talks because as you know from the beginning, they were with us but Malong is still suspended and investigations are ongoing. And our brother Pagan refused the charter. They will not be at the talks until we resolve the issues within SSOMA,” Lasu added.

The team in Rome led by NAS leader Thomas Cirillo includes the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), the National Democratic Movement Patriotic Front (NDM/PF), and the United Democratic Revolutionary Movement/Army (UDRA).

SSOMA split over differences in October after the South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA) of Thomas Cirillo, suspended the membership of Malong’s SSUF from SSOMA. Pagan Amum, head of the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) and member of the SSOMA leadership council, rejected Malong’s suspension saying the move violates the regulations of the alliance. 

In mid-November, SSOMA joined the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) aimed at upholding the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).