South Sudan: Little Progress On South Sudan Peace Negotiation

Khartoum — After two and a half months of armed conflict in South Sudan, the gap is still wide between government forces led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar.

GAP OF DIFFERENCES REMAINS

The negotiations between the two sides are still going on in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the patronage of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), a regional organization formed by east African countries. No agreement has been reached, as both parties are adherent to their demands while the clashes continue on the ground.

The rebels' last demand was forming a transitional government, in which current President Kiir must have no role. But Juba has rejected that demand.

"There is no way Salva Kiir steps down, save that he fails to win the coming presidential elections," said Ateny Wek Ateny, spokesperson of South Sudan's presidential Office.

But Ateny also said that the "Juba government welcomes participation of the rebels in the coming elections, slated for next years."

The spokesman expressed pessimism over the future of the Addis Ababa negotiations, saying "there are barriers that may not lead to a positive outcome, including the rebels' crippling demands."

SHAKY CEASEFIRE

In the meantime, a ceasefire agreement signed by the two parties in Addis Ababa late last January, seems unable to rein the violence which is spreading in the south, namely Upper Nile and Unity, the biggest oil-producing states in South Sudan.

Reports show that differences renewed between the two South Sudanese rivals.

The rebels protested against a decision by African mediators to include Nasir, a rebels' stronghold in Upper Nile State, among the ceasefire monitoring and verification areas.

Local media reported that Taban Deng Gai, head of the rebels' negotiating team, said the IGAD should not have included Nasir as one of the areas to be monitored, while excluding other areas held by pro-government forces.

HUMANITARIAN, ECONOMIC CRISES