Kiir bids farewell to government negotiating team leaving for Rome

JUBA – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit has this evening met the government negotiating team which is leaving tomorrow for Rome negotiation with a number of holdout opposition groups, according to the presidency.

“The Government Delegation for the Peace Talks with the opposition holdout groups of South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance headed by the Minister of Presidential Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial met with President Salva Kiir in his Office on Wednesday prior their departure to Rome to resume the negotiations,” the presidency said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

Deputy chief negotiator Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin separately told the state-run SSBC that they were heading to Rome to negotiate in good faith with the groups which are not signatories to the revitalized peace agreement.

“We are resuming the peace talks in Rome in a high spirit of peace, reconciliation and open minds and urges the members of SSOMA to reciprocate the same spirit,” Marial said

“President Salva Kiir directed the government delegation to negotiate well with the holdout opposition group under SSOMA in order to bring peace to the people of South Sudan,” he added.