The negotiations have reached a deadlock over the powers of a prime minister, a peace delegate has said.

Bishop Enock Tombe, the leader of the religious group to the peace talks, says he heard that the parties are not agreeing on the IGAD protocol for the interim government.

“They say there is a dead-lock because power sharing can only be discussed by the two principles, namely President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar,” Bishop Tombe told Eye Radio’s Sundown program.

IGAD protocol says there should be an office of Prime Minister to be created and the powers of the prime minister to be negotiated.

However, the interim constitution of South Sudan stipulates that the president is both head of state and government.

“And so that’s why there is a dead-lock over negotiations of the powers of the prime minister,” he added

The peace talks are currently being held in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

The Government of South Sudan wants peace talks between warring factions moved from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Kenya, which is said to be neutral.

Information minister Michael Makuei, also the government spokesman, last Wednesday said if the talks’ venue is moved to Kenya, the mediation process would lead to a quick resolution of the conflict and avert a looming humanitarian crisis in Africa’s youngest nation.