Gen. Cirilo’s group threatens to boycott Rome talk as Kiir accepts return to process

JUBA — South Sudan’s National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka has threatened to boycott Rome talk saying the agenda remains unclear despite President Salva Kiir’s intention to return to the Rome peace process.

This comes just a day after President Kiir told the 5th Governors’ Forum that he has asked the Sant’Egidio of Rome to resume talks with holdout opposition groups.

Suba Samuel Manase, the spokesman of the National Salvation Front, says his group is ready for talks with Kiir’s government but he said there is no clear agenda for resumption of talks with Kiir.

“This is what we have been saying that for us we are ready for talks, but what kind of talks is our interest. It is not just about talking for picnic,” he said.

“Talks is about discussing fundamental issues that will bring peace that is what we mean by talks,” he added.

He said a number of outstanding issues have not been addressed since collapse of talks and said they will only return if there is seriousness from President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government.

“We have an agenda before the peace talks collapsed and there are outstanding issues that are not resolved,” he said.

“When those issues are resolved then it will pave way for serious talks,” he added.

The peace process has dragged on since May this year when NAS first boycotted the Rome talks after it accused government forces of attacking their positions in Central Equatoria State.

In July this year, the group also rejected talks with the government, accusing Juba of targeting its leaders in the neighboring Uganda following the killing of General Abraham Wani in Kampala.