CEPO: IGAD invites key representatives of South Sudan parties to Ethiopia
Monday, May 7, 2018 (PW) — The Inter-governmental Authority on Development on Sunday invited key representatives of each of the South Sudan parties to go to Ethiopia for consultations from 10th May-12th 2018. The invitation was written by the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan.
IGAD Council of Ministers has decided to intensify its engagement with the parties with a view to identifying possible options for unlocking the stalemate during the next peace talks.
“In order for the process to be focused and meaningful, the engagements need to be limited to representatives of the parties,” partly reads the letter addressed to the parties.
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the move in the context of consultations since we have several times called upon IGAD under the shuttle diplomacy to lobby the parties for compromises on the outstanding issues on revitalization of chapter 1 and 2.
Facilitation of shuttle diplomacy prior the next phase of ARCSS chapter 1 and 2 outstanding issues is paramount.
Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO says getting the parties closure to narrow their gaps on the outstanding issues before the revitalization next phase is essential.
The parties have clearly demonstrated clashed of approaches and idea on sorting out their political difference. So getting them for consultations that allow them to trade on “Win-Win” or “Give and Take” approach prior the next HLRF phase is welcome.
CEPO review of media articles published on peacemaking after the signing of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement Dec. 2018 and following the last phase of HLRF, shown clearly that the warring parties are in rigid positions far from compromising for making peace prevail during the next phase of HLRF proposed in the month of May, 2018, Mr. Yakani stressed.
It is a right time for the negotiating parties to give chance for non-violent settlement of their political difference. Their political estrange and hostile relationship should not subject the nation and citizens to suffer.
Political disagreement is component of politics but should not be used for making citizens suffer be embracing violent approach for settling political differences.
CEPO is calling upon the South Sudan parties to take the opportunity of the consultations for narrowing gaps and keeping the citizens hopeful of peaceful settlement of their political difference.
Finally, CEPO urging IGAD to share with the citizens the outcomes of their consultations with the representatives of the parties.
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