‘South Sudan’s Peace Process Shouldn’t be held hostage by the political crisis in Ethiopia’ – Gov’t Spokesperson
BY TESFANEWS
South Sudan government has proposed a change of venue for hosting the next round of the High-Level Revitalization Forum due to the political situation in Ethiopia, Minister of information, Michael Makuei has said.
Ethiopia has been facing an unprecedented level of unrest and political crisis that led to the death of hundreds and displacement of over a million civilians.
Ethiopia has its own problems to solve rather than hosting South Sudan’s warring parties to solve their problems.
Last month, Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also the Chairperson of IGAD, resigned as the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the ruling EPRDF following a period of popular unrest in the Amhara and Oromia regions.
Mr. Makuei said, his government, therefore, wants the venue of the peace talks to be changed as the political issue in Ethiopia shouldn’t be a reason to delay the peace process.
“So if our peace process is delaying because of the Ethiopian situation, then we say our peace cannot be held hostage pending on the resolution of the Ethiopian situation,” he told the local Eye Radio.
The South Sudan government, therefore, suggesting the talks to be conducted in another regional country with the exception of Sudan and Somalia.
“The talks can be hosted either by Djibouti or Kenya and Uganda, but Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan are out of question,” Mr. Makuei said.
In February, the IGAD suspended the peace talks after the opposition and the government failed to reach a deal over issues regarding the governance and security arrangement.
