The peace dialogue has entered its fourth day today with intense discussions on governance question.

The negotiations on governance is being attended by three members from each of the seven groups and IGAD-Plus representatives.

The seven groups are: government, SPLM-In Opposition, former political detainees, faith-based group(Christian and Muslim religious leaders), women bloc, civil society (both from Juba and the Diaspora), and eminent personalities (two elderly statesmen from South Sudan).

The spokesperson of the government’s delegation, Michael Makuei, says they have resolved some articles under chapter one of the proposed compromise peace deal, but disagreed on others.

“The rebels are of opinion that they should get 70% in the Transitional Government of National Unity, the government gets 20% and the other political parties and the former detainees of get 10%,” Mr Makuei said.

“But the government is saying the government should get 70%, the SPLM-SPLA In Opposition gets 20% and 10% for other political parties.”

Participation of the Former Political Detainees as an entity on its own is being debated too.

“We have clearly stated that the FDs are not supposed to attend this sitting as an entity because that entity got dissolved with their going to Juba,” he added.

“It’s rather strange that they have now come to claim that they are not part and parcel of the SPLM… but continue to stand as an entity.”

In July, seven of the ten former political detainees returned to Juba in honor of the Arusha Agreement. These include Pagan Amum who was then reinstated as the SPLM Secretary-General.

Meanwhile, one of the former detainees, Deng Alor Kuol, says their group will continue to be part of the talks.

He says they will push the warring parties to sign a final peace deal on 17 August.

“That is his opinion; that they don’t recognize our presence at these peace talks is according to him. But we are a fundamental entity to these peace talks and we shall continue to be part of the talks,” Mr Alor argued.

He called for participation of the National Alliance in the negotiations together with the rest of the stakeholder.

Last week, a 7-member team of the National Alliance was barred from traveling to Addis Ababa on the alleged orders of the Office of the President.