SPLM-IO Press statement on the Progress of Phase II of the HLRF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PRESS RELEASE: PHASE II OF THE HIGH LEVEL REVITALIZATION FORUM (HLRF)
Monday, May 21, 2018 (PW) — The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to update our members and the people of South Sudan at large on the progress of Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) since its resumption on May 17, 2018. After a two-day workshop on governance and on security on the 15th and 16th of May, the HLRF was officially launched on May 17, 2018. The issues for negotiation were the sticking points on governance and security which we have been discussing since the beginning of Phase II of HLRF in February 2018.
In February 2018, Faith-based Groups requested the IGAD Mediation to give South Sudanese an opportunity to discuss these issues among themselves without the mediation. On May 17, the IGAD Mediation after officially launching the session, asked the faith-based groups to facilitate the discussions, while IGAD maintained an observer status in the sessions facilitated by the faith-based groups. Though the faith-based groups have been facilitating the discussions since May 18, there has been no major breakthrough. However, there is some little progress in the security committee and we encourage our members and people of South Sudan to remain hopeful, your Movement shall update you with time.
The SPLM/SPLA (IO) contention is that the faith-based groups efforts despite being contradictory to the ideals of Westphalian Sovereignty, are noble. These efforts however, are undermined by the presence of a brutal state security apparatus in Juba, to which they must return and may be a victim of.
SPLM/SPLA (IO) shall continue to articulate our position as presented to IGAD Mediation during the consultation on May 11 and 12 and shall also continue to negotiate in good faith to bring sustainable peace to the people of South Sudan. However, in light of the government’s continued violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoH) and massacring of innocent civilians, the SPLM/SPLA (IO) reserves the natural right of self-defense.
Signed:
CDE MABIOR GARANG MABIOR (CHAIRMAN)
SPLM NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
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