Rebel military officers, gov’t counterparts meeting in Rome – spokesman

ROME – South Sudan opposition military officers and their government counterparts are meeting their government counterparts in a workshop being organized by the peace monitoring body, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), in the Italian capital Rome, according to a senior opposition official.

Deng Vanang, the official spokesman of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) told Sudans Post in an exclusive interview on Tuesday night that the workshop which began on Monday will end on 13th of November, just before the resumption of peace talks which is expected to begin on November 30th.

“SSOMA military officers are currently meeting government military officers in a CTSAMVM-organized workshop in Rome, Italy,” Deng who is in Italy told Sudans Post on phone.

“The workshop which commenced from yesterday 9th of November will continue up to 13th of November. It is aimed at introducing our officers to how CTSAMVM works,” he added.

The senior opposition official further said the opposition alliance faction will not accept integration of their military officers to the ceasefire monitoring CTSAMVM, until the parties sign peace agreement with the government.

“There will be no integration of our officers into the said ceasefire agency anytime soon, till the SSOMA political leadership signs with government previously initialed re-commitment to COHA on coming 30th of November if the workshop is successfully conduced,” he added.