A member of civil society to the peace talks says the former political detainees are no longer qualified to attend the next round of talks after their reinstatement in the SPLM.

Last week, Mr. Pagan Amum was reinstated as SPLM Secretary-General. Following his reinstatement, Mr. Amum said they are no longer former detainees, but members of the SPLM as a ruling party.

In an exclusive interview with Eye Radio, Beny Gideon Mabor, says the so-called former detainees can only participate in the Addis Ababa peace talks if President Salva Kiir restructures the government’s delegation.

“Logically speaking……they will not be relevant anymore in the IGAD-led peace process,” Mr Mabor said.

“And I don’t think they will go to Addis Ababa again as a separate entity called SPLM leaders former detainees because by implication, that name stands dissolved the very day SPLM former detainees came to Juba and got reinstated.”

Mr. Beny also says the seven percent power sharing proposed by IGAD for the former detainees should be given to the other political parties, because the former detainees are now part of the SPLM, which is the government.

The IGAD mediation team says the next round of South Sudan peace talks will resume after the holy month of Ramadan this month.