June 11th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) -South Sudan’s ex-ambassador to the Russian Federation turned rebel official has referred to the previous exclusion of prominent opposition and SPLM-IO leader, Riek Machar, from peace talks, by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as ‘miscalculation’ pointing out that left-out military generals and politicians from either sides of the conflict still carry on the war despite UN sanctions and IGAD isolation.
In an opinion article published on Thursday by the Paan Luel Wel, the former South Sudan diplomat said he thanks the regional body for the support they have accorded the war-ravaged country.
“I would like to thank all the IGAD member states for the unrelenting support that they have accorded South Sudan for some years now,” Telar said.
Telar however said, as he gives credit where it belongs, he should also speak on the vices saying the IGAD’s decision in 2016 to isolate the rebel leader, Riek Machar, from peace talks and from the region was a miscalculation from the part of the regional body.
“However as we give credit where it’s due, we should also speak out on the vices. It was a miscalculation not to include Dr. Riek Machar in the peace talks was a miscalculation on IGADs part. IGAD should also include the newly formed parties that are already on the ground,” the former diplomat said.
He said it is high time for the people of South Sudan to forget the past in order to work together for a lasting solution to the current civil war saying foreign interventions will not work while thanking the government of the neighboring Sudan for initiating the expected face-to-face meeting between Kiir and Machar in late June.
“It is high time we forgot about the past and worked together to bring a lasting solution to the civil war that is ravaging our country. Foreign intervention might not really bring the solutions we need as a country but will give us a platform in which we will be able to find our own solutions as South Sudanese. Therefore, we thank Sudan for giving us a platform on which President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar will be able to meet on a face-to-face basis,” he said.
He said the left out movements will definitely carry on with the war regardless of the UNSC sanctions giving example with some SPLA generals who have been sanctioned by the UNSC yet still pursuing the military incursion on behalf of the government.
