British envoy tells Machar to join national dialogue

JUBA – The British ambassador to South Sudan, Christopher Trott, has asked the chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to join the national dialogue.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday following his meeting with Machar, Trott said the participation of the main armed opposition group “SPLM/A-IO in the national dialogue is very important for the country.”

The national dialogue initiative was launched by President Salva Kiir in 2016 aimed at finding the root causes of the ongoing problems in South Sudan.

But the SPLM-IO refused to join the initiative, arguing that it was meant to disrupt the implementation of the peace agreement.