Kiir-Gatwech talks postponed indefinitely over Sudan protests – official

JUBA – The transitional government in Sudan has postponed planned peace talks between President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government and main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) faction led by former SPLA-IO military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual indefinitely, an opposition diplomat has said.

Early this month, a high-level government delegation led by President Salva Kiir’s security advisor Tutkew Gatluak Manimeh traveled to the Sudanese capital Khartoum where they met an opposition delegation led by General Simon Gatwech Dual where the two sides agreed to start talks on security arrangements provided for in the revitalized peace deal.

The Sudanese government which was mediating between the two parties upon the request of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) had stated that the talks between General Simon Gatwech’s group and President Salva Kiir Mayardit were to begin in two week’s times from October 2.

However, speaking to Sudans Post this morning, a senior opposition diplomat allied to General Simon Gatwech Dual in Khartoum said they had been informed by the Sudanese government that talks between them and President Salva Kiir have been postponed until further notice owing to ongoing protests in the capital Khartoum.

“We have been informed officially that the peace negotiations between us and the government of the Republic of South Sudan under H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan is not going to take place as planned,” the South Sudanese opposition diplomat who requested not to be named said.

“This is because there is crisis within the Sudanese government and I mean between different components of the transitional government of Sudan which has sparked protest in the country. Now they have said that because of that protest, we will not be able to hold talk until when there is possibility,” the diplomat said.