S. Sudan parties set for talks

Salva Kiir President of the Republic of South Sudan speaks at the 69th United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014 in New York City. PHOTO | AFP

ARUSHA

A new initiative to reconcile the warring parties in the bloody conflict in South Sudan will be launched here on Monday and will be hosted by Tanzania at the request of Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Mr Abdulrahman Kinana, a veteran Tanzania politician said on Saturday the dialogue will bring together the various SPLM groups “with the aim of reunifying their leadership and the people of South Sudan”.

Peace process

Today’s official launching of the peace process in Africa’s newest nation followed a week-long intra-SPLM Dialogue which has been taking place in Arusha since October 12th.

The  six-day discussions, he said, agreed to establish a framework for the intra-party dialogue “including shared principles, objectives and agenda for engaging to re-unifying the party”.

Reports say President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Dr Riek Machar are expected at the official launching of the peace talks by President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

However, it could not be confirmed if the two adversaries would be here in person for another round of reconciliation after the apparent failure of talks in Addis Ababa to bring lasting peace in South Sudan.