The spokesperson of government delegation to the peace talks has dismissed media reports that the government has withdrawn its delegates from Addis Ababa.

On Friday, some media houses quoted the Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr Martin Elia, as saying the government was withdrawing its delegation, and would not sign the proposed peace deal on August 17.

Speaking exclusively to Eye Radio in Addis Ababa, Michael Makuei, who is also the minister of information, said Dr. Elia was misquoted by what he calls “scrupulous media houses”.

He says it was only the Chief Negotiator, Honorable Nhial Deng Nhial, who was to go to Juba to brief President Salva Kiir on the contentious issues before he could travel to Addis Ababa for the summit this weekend.

“That was a misquotation; what Martin Elia had stated on the South Sudan Television was that, the government or His Excellency the President yesterday [Friday] had a meeting, and based on that meeting, it was decided that the Chief Negotiator [ Nhial Deng Nhial] goes to Juba and brief the President on the outstanding issues before he could come here, not the whole delegation,” Mr Makuei stressed.

“But some scrupulous media houses decided to turn it the other way round and said that the government’s delegation has been recalled, which is very unfortunate. This is unethical and this is very unprofessional.”

Mr Makuei also said the President is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa anytime from today for the summit of the IGAD heads of state.

However, the government’s delegation has not clarified whether President Salva Kiir or Vice President James Wani Igga will be the one attending the IGAD Summit of the heads of state in Addis Ababa.