Community of Sant’Egidio

SSOMA headed by Malong welcomes Rome Peace Talks: Full Text

October 14, 2020 The South Sudan

          PRESS RELEASE

SSOMA headed by Paul Malong Awan and the government delegation during at Rome Peace Talks |Photo: Chol Duang

Oct 14, 2020 (Thessherald)–South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) delegation led by Gen. Paul Malong Awan met with the government delegation led by Hon. Phial Deng Nhial on Saturday 10th October, 2020 in Rome, Italy.

The Dialogue was led by the Chief Mediator Prof. Mario Giro and Dr Paolo, Secretary General of the Community of Sant’ Egidio. The dialogue between SSOMA and the government was cordial and fruitful. Sant’ Egidio wanted the dialogue to pick up from where things were left earlier this year due to COVID-19 lockdown, which were Rome Declaration and Rome resolutions.

Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial expressed President Kiir’s seriousness and commitment to an inclusive peace process and implementation in South Sudan. The dialogue stressed on the importance of silencing the guns in order to allow the people of South Sudan to choose how to govern themselves in an inclusive manner as well as in the making of the constitution process.

The government strongly expressed that the security reforms cannot be made in the absence of Gen. Paul Malong Awan and Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, both of whom were part and parcel of the liberation struggle. That peace can only be achieved if all the opposition groups are included and back in the country.

The two delegations expressed their commitments in being open-minded to finding solutions and making an agreement that will bring change and lasting peace for the suffering people of South Sudan. The first meeting concluded with commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan as a way forward instead of having positions-based agreements as the solution.

The two delegations also jointly met with members of regional and international communities, who in turn expressed their common interest in the search for peace in South Sudan. They expressed their sympathies and hopes for South Sudanese to find a solution and reconcile to end the suffering of the people.

After a series of side meetings, deliberations and a final meeting on 12th October, 2020 night, we regret to inform the public that the Sant’ Egidio Rome initiative for South Sudan peace process ended without any resolve, except for the reaffirmation and recommitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement (CoHA).

The other regrettable thing was that SSOMA split into two because Sant’ Egidio could not convince the parties to negotiate as one opposition group with the government. The government delegation led by Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial and Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin did not take advantage of the split of SSOMA and instead decided to meet the two groups separately.

The Delegates of SSOMA and the government departed Rome on the 12th October, 2020 and will be informed about the continuation of the peace negotiations on a later date.

Rome Peace Talks between SSOMA and R-TGoNU end in deadlock

October 13, 2020 The South Sudan

Members of the SSOMA and R-TGoNU representatives at Rome Peace Talks|Photo: Thessherald

October 13, 2020 (Thessherald)–Peace talks aimed at reaching an agreement between the SSOMA and the coalition government ended in deadlock on Monday as the Parties disagreed on a number of issues.

Since last week, R-TGoNU representatives and members of the South Sudan Movements Alliance had been engaged in peace talks under the mediation of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Italy.

“The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) would like to inform its members, supporters, the people of South Sudan, and the International Community that SSOMA and the R-TGoNU resumed the Rome Peace Process under the auspices of the Community of SANT’EGIDIO that commenced on the 9th – 12th October, 2020 in Rome, Italy,” the statement issued by the alliance partly reads.
SSOMA

The talks between the warring parties centered on the parties ’commitment to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoA) .

“This round of peace talks focused on recommitment of SSOMA and R-TGoNU to CoHA, participation in the CTSMVM, and negotiation on Declaration of Principles to guide upcoming talks to address the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan,” said the opposition alliance in a press release.

“After extensive four (4) days of cordial and productive discussion and deliberations, the parties agreed on recommitment to CoHA and participation in CTSAMVM as well as the Framework for the Declaration of Principles.”

“The parties initialed the CoHA Recommitment document and the agreed points of the proposed Declaration Principles pending the discussion of the remaining points in the next round of talks that will take place on the 30th November 2020.”

The opposition alliance commends the Sant’Egidio community for mediating the peace talks.

“We thank the Community of SANT’EGIDIO for hosting the talks and we assure our supporters and the people of South Sudan that SSOMA is committed to the Rome Peace Process under the auspices of the Community of Sant’Egidio to achieve just and sustainable peace in South Sudan.”