The government of South Sudan today blamed the Intergovernmental Authority on Development  (IGAD) and the rebels for delaying peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

South Sudan’s government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth, who is the National Minister of Information and Broadcasting, told Radio Tamazuj that they would have almost reached a deal if IGAD did not postpone talks at the end of last month.

IGAD, a regional bloc, is mediating negotiations between government, rebels, political parties, and civil society organizations.

In May, the parties agreed to forge a peace deal and plans for a transitional government within a 60-day deadline that is now less than 20 days away.  Peace talks have been postponed since late June after the rebels complained about some of the delegates present.

Makuei said if the IGAD does not call the parties to the negotiating table then the government is not to blame.  He said that the government will go to Addis Ababa on 30 July in hopes of talks restarting on 31 July.

Makuei said that a recent rebel attack on Nasir town would not change the government’s will to attend negotiations.

“The violations that the rebels have committed these past days…will not stop us from going to negotiations,” he said, adding that peace will come not by arms but by negotiations.

“If the rebels persist in their violations, their violations will not be able to change the position of the government,” he continued.  “The government will follow the issue of negotiations so that we can achieve peace, a permanent peace in South Sudan.”

Photo: Minister of Information and Broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth

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