Updated at 11:25Am, July 29, 2014(PST).
July 29, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — In a brief notice to other delegates and stakeholders, the most aspired political solution to resolve the conflict in South Sudan has once again been postponed because the government delegation can’t attend the peace talk.
According to the report seen by Nyamilepedia, IGAD has postponed the peace mediation, which was to resume tomorrow, because the South Sudan government can’t attend the IGAD mediated peace talks during the month of Eid-El Fitr holiday.
“This is to kindly inform you that as per the request of the government of the Republic of South Sudan because of the long Eid El Fitr holiday, they will not be able to attend the peace talks on July 30th” the report reads.
Seemingly disappointed, the IGAD “is forced” to postponed the next round of peace talk until further notice.
“The office of the Special Envoy for South Sudan is therefore forced to reschedule the resumption date of the IGAD peace talk for South Sudan” the report continued.
South Sudan government has declined to attend earlier rounds of peace talk because the IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim, inferred Salva Kiir in a “stupid” comment. The government responded by demanding punishments of the Executive Secretary for making such inference at the expense of prolonging conflict in the country.
Maalim was quoted to have said that it would be stupid if the South Sudanese leaders would want to solve the conflict through military wrangles. However, what started as a political crisis among the politicians has claimed ten thousands of lives, displaced over one million population while thousands of children would starve to death if the looming food crisis is not averted.
Suffering continues in Greater Upper Nile region as rain intensifies as fighting resumed in Awreil, Nasir, Ayod and other parts of the country.
Maalim, however, has made attempts to explain himself to the Juba government but was allegedly turned down to meet the president. The Executive Secretary has approached Dr. Machar in Djibouti when the leader of the opposition visited the country and said he was misquoted by the media.
Machar, a PhD holder in strategic planning and philosophy, believes that such a comment should not politicize the peace mediation process. Compared to Salva Kiir government, Machar demanded less knowing that “he has not been known for being stupid”.
After the stupid comment, the mediation resumed, however, it collapsed after the opposition protested “unfair” selection of the civil societies. IGAD reconsidered their decision on 26 July, four days before this round was to begin, but yet again cancelled until further notice.
The regional bloc is yet to reschedule the mediation, and therefore, advises the stakeholders and negotiators to postpone their travels until further notice.
“This communication, is therefore, to advise you to put on hold your travel to Addis until further notice” the report concludes.
