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Sudan Tribune

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South Sudanese warring parties make significant compromises: officials

July 26, 2015 (JUBA) – Leading officials from South Sudan’s rival warring parties on Sunday claimed to have made significant compromises on key contentious matters, raising hope and prospect of ending more than 19 months long conflict.

Government's top negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial (L) exchanges a signed ceasefire agreement with the head of the rebel delegation Taban Deng Gai Addis Ababa, ((Photo Reuters-Birahnu Sebsibe)
Government’s top negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial (L) exchanges a signed ceasefire agreement with the head of the rebel delegation Taban Deng Gai Addis Ababa, ((Photo Reuters-Birahnu Sebsibe)
Former cabinet affairs minister, Deng Alor Kuol, who leads the indirect engagement with the armed opposition leadership under former vice president, Riek Machar, said on Sunday talks had made significant strive towards resolving the contentious matters.

“The engagement went well. It has addressed significant issues and bold decisions were made in the interest of peace and unity of our people,” Alor told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

“The SPLM leadership wants to reunite the country and this is the purpose of these talks. Our objective is that peace must come so that our people return to their homes and begin to live in peace and harmony,” he said.

He did not disclose the details of the compromises which the two sides have made, although several officials and diplomats as well as presidential aides told Sudan Tribune that it was likely a peace agreement could be signed in August between the government and the armed opposition leadership.

Sources close to indirect engagement between the government supported negotiations with the armed opposition claimed the issue of the hierarchical structure and the two armed forces have been resolved.

“I am optimistic peace will come soon because the contentious matters have been addressed. The issue of the two armies in one country, which has been one of the causes of major disagreements, and which actually led to the collapse of talks in March, has been resolved,” he said.

Through the recent engagements, it has been agreed that there will only be a limited period of integration of the forces. The issue of the structure of the government in terms of protocol has also been resolved”, a leading official who was part of the indirect negotiation with opposition leadership told Sudan Tribune Sunday.

The engagement, he said, resolved that there will not be two armies during the interim period and that the government has agreed to both Arusha reunification agreement of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the IGAD proposal which makes the armed opposition leader to become the first deputy chairperson in the party and the first vice president in the government.

Other issues which have been addressed included compensation of the people affected by the conflict on both sides, extension of power sharing to the states and the counties as well as dissolution and reconstitution of both council of states and the national legislative assembly.

(ST)

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