Author : | Published: Sunday, February 2, 2014
Map of former Jonglei State. courtesy of aljazeera.com
“Resorting to guns will not allow us to move forward,”
negotiator for David Yau Yau.
The South Sudan Democratic Movement Defense Army which is led by General David Yau Yau says it has temporarily suspended military operations in Jonglei State in order to pave a way for peace.
On Thursday the South Sudan government and the SSDM, SSDA Cobra Faction signed an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The deputy Commander for David Yau Yau for political affairs and chief negotiator to the talks Lieutenant-General Boutros Khalid told Eye Radio they have observed the cessation of hostilities:
“We have suspended the war until we reach an agreement that will be acceptable to all parties, which will lead us to sign a comprehensive peace agreement. For we have come to this peace talks with open hearts, but if there is lack of credibility from the other part, all what have built would collapse and that would force people to go the way which they don’t know what the end result of it would be.”
However, General Khalid also said there was some way to go and the situation of marginalized people still had to be resolved:
“The aim should not be that people make noise and fight, but the government must response to the demands of the marginalized people, and these issues must be resolved through negotiations. Resorting to guns will not allow us to move forward.”
On the same note, the government welcomed the move by South Sudan Democratic Movement Leader, David Yau Yau to suspend its operations in the Jonglei State.
While addressing a presidential press conference on Saturday the Presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny said President Salva Kiir welcomed the agreement.
He said, the agreement will bring calm to the country:
“So, there will not be fighting for anyone, there will not be fighting for government, and there will not be fighting for the rebels of Riek Machar. His Excellency, the president of the Republic, General Salva Kiir Mayardiit, welcomes the enduring effort of the mediators, and the cooperation shown by South Sudan Democratic Movement Leader, David Yau Yau; in considering the urgent need for reconciliation in Jonglei State, particularly, in the way they have reflected for the peace of the whole country in signing the agreement.”
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