South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The government and hold-out opposition groups attending the high-level mediation talks in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Thursday reiterated their commitment to the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).
The transitional unity government has been engaging the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by Paul Malong Awan and Real-Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (Real-SPLM) under Pagan Amum Okiech.
The talks were launched on May 3rd by President William Ruto in the presence of President Salva Kiir.
In a communiqué seen by The Dawn, the parties committed to the COHA, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access under the 2017 deal signed in Addis Ababa.
They also agreed to work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, creating conducive environment for dialogue and humanitarian assistance.
They called on parties who have not yet joined the high-level mediation in Nairobi to join and participate and play an active role in this process.
The three parties’ renounced violence as a means of resolving differences and called upon all South Sudanese citizens to engage in constructive dialogue, fostering an environment where grievances can be addressed peacefully.
The groups agreed to open civic and political spaces, and to allow citizens to participate in peaceful political processes and to respect, protect and guarantee the freedom of expression, assembly and association.
“To set aside our individual differences and to compromise our political differences for the sake of the nation, and through open and honest discussions, we will identify and implement practical solutions to the multiple challenges facing South Sudan,” they said.
