Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia received on Tuesday the chief negotiator of the South Sudanese government, at the outset of a new round of peace talks hosted in Addis Ababa. 

In a meeting with Nhial Deng Nhial, the chief negotiator and former foreign minister of South Sudan, the Ethiopian leader urged the South Sudanese government to observe the ceasefire agreement it had signed in January, and to resolve the political problems with the opposition through dialogue.  

According to a statement released by the Ethiopian government, “Prime Minister Hailemariam stressed that the senseless bloodshed in South Sudan should stop unconditionally.”

“Nhial Deng Nhial said his government appreciated Ethiopia's unreserved support for resolution of the crisis in South Sudan and he requested it to continue its support to the ongoing IGAD-led mediation efforts,” the statement read.

The peace talks resumed in Ethiopia on Tuesday. These are really the third round of talks, but are described as the ‘resumption of the second phase’, since the phase two talks were suspended earlier this month.

Radio Tamazuj has learnt that the latest development from the talks is that the IGAD mediation postponed the meeting of the parties today from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

This meeting is meant to address the matter of the agenda, a draft of which was handed to the parties late Tuesday. According to the draft agenda, the mediation intend to discuss four main items.

First is the implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed last January. Second is the declaration of principles on matters. Third is the political dialogue process. Fourth is the civil society conference.

The parties are expected today to provide their responses on the draft agenda to the mediation.