March 24, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — The Community of Sant’Egidio secretary-general, Paolo Impagliazzo, has said that the Rome Initiative is not meant to renegotiate the R-ARCSS but to engage non-signatories to the deal because they have to be involved in the political discourse in the country.
“The Rome initiative is not aimed to reopen the R-ARCSS.”
Speaking to the media, Paolo said that the amendments of the R-ARCSS have a particular process that should be followed.
“Amendments to the R-ARCSS are possible through a particular process in which all the parties to the Agreements accept to change it,” Impagliazzo said.
“The Rome initiative engages the non-signatories that are not part of the R-ARCSS. The non-signatories can and should contribute to the political debate.” He further added.
According to the secretary-general, concerted efforts from all stakeholders are required to build a lasting and sustainable peace in South Sudan.
He hinted that the next meeting will probably be held in May in Italy.
“The next meeting between the SSOMA parties, SSUF/A of Paul Malong and Real SPLM of Pagan Amun and the government will be most probably in May in Rome. It is essential to have everyone on board to discuss the root causes of the conflict including the governance, the security sector, insecurity, national healing, etc.”
Paolo Impagliazzo added that Sant’Egidio already facilitated different sessions of political discussion between SSOMA led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo and the government.
He said that in the next meeting, the parties will discuss the remaining details of the “Declaration of Principles”, which will establish a shared political framework for any further development.”
The secretary-general concluded that the meetings are meant to facilitate dialogue of the non-signatories to the R-ARCSS and the TGoNU.
“The Rome initiative led by Sant’Egidio is aimed to facilitate the political dialogue between the non-signatories to the R-ARCSS and the TGoNU: it is complementary to the IGAD led process. Our efforts are to reduce the violence and to make the peace process inclusive of the holdout groups,” he concluded.
