Peace talks between gov’t, Malong and Pagan postponed over independence celebration – Marial Benjamin

JUBA – Peace talks between South Sudan government and holdout opposition alliance, South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) led by General Paul Malong Awan and Pagan Amum has been adjourned at the government’s request, according to presidential affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin.

Speaking exclusively to Sudans Post this afternoon, Marial said he has wrote to the Sant’Egidio Community of Rome which mediates for the government and the holdout opposition groups asking to postpone the talks over engaging talks at home.

“I have wrote a letter to the mediation of Sant’Egidio and presented to them a request that there is need for postponement of the talks between the government of the Republic of South Sudan and the SSOMA led by General Paul Malong and Pagan Amum,” he said in Juba.

“Based on this request, the talk has now been adjourned to be conducted during the last day of the second week of July, 2021 and this is also based on our request. If the other side consents to the new date, then we will definitely conduct it between 10^th and 18^th July,” he added.

Malong’s SSOMA confirms postponement

When conducted by Sudans Post regarding the postponement, the press secretary for General Paul Malong Chol Duang confirmed that they have been informed of the adjournment by the community of Sant’Egidio and talks will likely take place as said by Marial.

“Yes, we’ve been notified of the postponement by the Sant’Egidio mediators,” Duang told Sudans Post from Nairobi, adding that they have not been informed as to when exactly the talks is going to resume, but said “I think talks may take place between 10^th and 18^th July.”