South Sudanese activists participating in the Ethiopian peace talks urged the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators to make more timely decisions and to stop delaying negotiations.

“In strong terms, CEPO is calling upon IGAD to be effective and conduct actions and decision timely,” said Edmund Yakani, the executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), speaking to Radio Tamazuj from the Ethiopian lakeside city of Bahir Dar where negotiations have been relocated from capital Addis Ababa.

“The delay of the peace means a lot to the lives of the South Sudanese specially children, women and elderly. This approach of delaying talks and pursuing front lines for gaining ground for negotiation and denying others participation in order to manipulate should not be entertained by IGAD,” Yakani said.

The activist said stakeholders have arrived in Bahir Dar but so far the agenda for the current round of talks has not been released.

He noted that the peace process must be ‘inclusive,’ referring to the participation of non-armed groups such as civil society and religious leaders, but he said the extent of their participation depends on what ‘inclusive’ means to IGAD.

“CEPO have some concerns towards IGAD,” Yakani said. “The issue of the agenda requires IGAD to be courageous and straightforward."

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