Malong-led SSOMA says Rome talks were ‘cordial and fruitful’

NAIROBI – The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) led by General Paul Malong Awan has said that talks between their group and the government which ended on October 12, in Italy were cordial and fruitful, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post this afternoon.

This comes after talks between SSOMA faction led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka and the government ended without any agreement after the government rejected a proposal for a referendum over the country’s boundaries.

“South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) delegation led by Gen. Paul Malong Awan met with the government delegation led by Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial on Saturday 10th October, 2020 in Rome, Italy. The Dialogue was led by the Chief Mediator Prof. Mario Giro and Dr Paolo, Secretary General of the Community of Sant’ Egidio,” the Malong-led SSOMA statement reads in part.

“The dialogue between SSOMA and the government was cordial and fruitful. Sant’ Egidio wanted the dialogue to pick up from where things were left earlier this year due to COVID-19 lockdown, which were Rome Declaration and Rome resolutions,” it said.

The group said in the statement that the government delegation expressed the R-TGONU’s belief that an inclusive peace agreement and permanent security improvement in the country cannot be achieved with Malong and General Oyai Deng Ajak on board.

“Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial expressed President Kiir’s seriousness and commitment to an inclusive peace process and implementation in South Sudan. The dialogue stressed on the importance of silencing the guns in order to allow the people of South Sudan to choose how to govern themselves in an inclusive manner as well as in the making of the constitution process,” it said.

“The government strongly expressed that the security reforms cannot be made in the absence of Gen. Paul Malong Awan and Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, both of whom were part and parcel of the liberation struggle. That peace can only be achieved if all the opposition groups are included and back in the country. The two delegations expressed their commitments in being open-minded to finding solutions and making an agreement that will bring change and lasting peace for the suffering people of South Sudan,” the statement added.

It said the meeting “concluded with commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan as a way forward instead of having positions-based agreements as the solution.”

However, the statement acknowledged that the meeting between the group and the government ended up without any crucial resolution or agreement, and reaffirmed the group’s commitment to achieving peace in South Sudan through the Italian mediation.

“After a series of side meetings, deliberations and a final meeting on 12h October, 2020 night, we regret to inform the public that the Sant’ Egidio Rome initiative for

South Sudan peace process ended without any resolve, except for the reaffirmation and recommitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA),” it said.

“The other regrettable thing was that SSOMA split into two because Sant’ Egidio could not convince the parties to negotiate as one opposition group with the government,” it added.

it further added that the “government delegation led by Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial and Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin did not take advantage of the split of SSOMA and instead decided to meet the two groups separately.”