Updated at 12:45Am, Sept 30, 2014(PST).
Sept 30, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — The South Sudan stakeholders in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, have made a few breakthroughs in the recent round of peace talks.
Within the last few days, the stakeholders have agreed on the provision of federalism, two deputies prime ministers positions, president position, prime minister position, vice president and the period of transitional government.
The stakeholders agreed that the period of transitional government shall be 30 months, however, the parties are yet to hold consensuses on the period of pre-transitional period, on the powers of Prime Minister and the powers of the president.
The government delegation, seconded by the SPLM-FPD, proposed that the pre-transitional period shall be three months, however, the SPLM/SPLA (in Opposition) suggested one month.
The talks which are shared on rotational bases have been shared by each leader of the negotiating parties, which comprises of government delegation, SPLM/SPLA, and SPLM-FPD. The Faith Based Organization, women block and Civil Society groups participate as observers.
According to Martin Majut, a member of government delegation, the latest discussion, which were shared by Deng Alor of SPLM-FPD, focused mostly on the period of transitional government and dispute resolution mechanism during the transitional period.
“We had a discussion, chaired by Deng Alor of the FDs and we discussed the period of transition. The period of transition was agreed to be 30 months, so we have agreed on that, there is no dispute about it.” Martin Majut said.
Majut believe the decision making mechanism during the transitional period will be based on a democratic simple majority.
Martin explains that if the parties fail to reach consensus on matters during the transitional period, the next stage would involve seeking help from commissioners, IGAD, AU or through litigation.
“Then the decision making mechanism, we agreed that it will be by consensuses and simple majority. And if there is a dispute, dispute resolutions will be tackled by the parties and if the parties are unable to resolve it, they will go to a commission which will be set up through the negotiation. The commission will be for monitoring and evaluation. If the commissioners failed, then it will go to IGAD and AU. And if the IGAD and AU do not convince the two parties to agree, then we go for litigation, that is a constitutional court.” Martin explains.
Majut believes that the stakeholders are making progress because the South Sudanese have finally taken over the negotiation from the IGAD mediators and other partners, who have been shattering between the stakeholders.
“I want to sure our people that this time round [ Arabic..the stakeholders are rotating the sharing of discussion, which resolved many problems/obstacles put forth by mediators…] so there is a general understanding and general consensus that to take over the process, we have to discuss among ourselves as the parties involved, we have to negotiate directly instead of other people shattering between us, that is why it took a very long time to reach an agreement” Majut reiterates.
“But now we feel that if we are talking alone, we will be able to make a breakthrough. This is our hope, let our people in South Sudan hope that this time it is a very serious session, it is a serious session in the sense that we have taken over the process as the warring parties, as the stakeholders, as the parties, and as the people of South Sudan who are affected” Majut emphasis.
According to Micheal Makuei Lueth, last week, the government delegation has given the Prime Minister a lots, however, the SPLM/SPLA delegation has maintained its position that they want executive powers during the transitional period.
