December 16th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – Talks on pending issues between South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny will resume today in the country’s capital Juba, opposition officials said.
Machar who has been under house confinement in the Sudanese capital Khartoum returned to Juba last week to try to find a break through with Mr. Kiir on several issues hampering a unity government formation provided for in a 2018 peace agreement.
These outstanding issues include the security arrangements (formation of a united professional army, police and national security) and the determination of the number and boundaries of states.
“The Chairman and Commander-in-Chief will today resume his meeting on the outstanding issues with President Salva,” an opposition official told the Nyamilepedia on condition of anonymity from Juba this morning.
Another opposition official said the two men will not discuss the number and boundaries of states because the issue was being discussed by the parties under an IGAD initiative to try to create a common ground on the issue.
“This issue will not be among the agendas of the meeting between President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar. The IGAD is already doing something on this,” he said.
The parties met in Juba last week to discuss the issue but talks ended without a breakthrough after government delegates insisted on maintaining the current 32 or their increase.
The opposition meanwhile said they want the country returned to ten (10) states or that number reduced to 24.
