Addis Ababa, April 20, 2015 (SSNA) — The leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has convened its second consultative conference in Pagak, South Sudan.
The meeting comes as IGAD and its peace partners look for ways to come up with a new peace proposal after previous peace talks collapsed early last month in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The meeting which began on Sunday has been attended by the SPLM/A-IO’s Chairs, deputy chairs of various national and specialized committees, representatives of the Movement abroad, senior military commanders, and governors of the states, according to a press statement released by James Gatdet Dak – the Spokesman for the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO.
Gatdet said the leadership is set to discuss a host of issues including IGAD’s previous and new peace proposals.
“The agenda will be discussing IGAD mediation including the proposed new mediation mechanism that may include AU, EU, UN, Troika and China. They will also be discussing AU report on atrocities committed in the war. Status of the Arusha agreement between factions of the SPLM will also be looked into.” Gatdet said in the statement.
Gatdet also disclosed that the leadership of the SPLM/A-IO will discuss the status of Arusha Agreement, dialogue with other South Sudanese political parties, former detainees, political mobilization, leaked AU reports on atrocities committed, and humanitarian situation in areas under rebels’ control.
Gatdet further revealed that the rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar, in his opening remarks, reiterated the SPLM/A-IO commitment to peace and called on attendees “to deliberate on the issues and agree on the way forward.”
In the meeting, Taban Deng Gai, the Chief negotiator for the SPLM/A-IO briefed participants on the status of the peace process and told the gathering of key movement figures that he expects a new mediation mechanism, according the statement extended to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).