Information Minister Michael Makuei | File photo.

The government delegation taking part in the Addis Ababa talks with the SPLM/SPLA –in Opposition has suggested the talks should be moved to Juba.

The government team said this would enable other stakeholders in South Sudan to have their say on the agenda suggested by IGAD.

IGAD has proposed discussion on humanitarian intervention, reconciliation, security provision, democracy and the Constitution review process, among others.

The government delegation spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, told Eye Radio in Debre Zeit last night that they want issues to do with political settlement and reforms to be discussed in Juba to include other participants.

“All the issues which are of national character, issues to do with governance, these are issues that the delegation here is not competent or even the two parties are not competent to discuss here because an overall conference that will be inclusive of all the stakeholders cannot be held just here but we need to move to the South after the end of the phase two, so that we go and hold an overall conference that will be attended by all the stakeholders,” said Mr Makuei.

“It is there and then that we will address all the issues of national concern, not here.”

Michael Makuei said issues on military activities between the government forces and forces loyal to Dr. Machar can be discussed outside Juba.

“The issues we think should be discussed here should be the consolidation of the cessation of hostilities and the ceasefire, because the cessation of hostilities is less than a ceasefire, because a ceasefire is coupled with so many other issues.”

The SPLM – in Opposition and the group of seven former political detainees are yet to come up with their recommendations on the IGAD framework paper on the second round of the talks.