IGAD has announced that South Sudan peace talks in Addis Ababa has been postponed.

The statement from IGAD said the launch of inclusive talks for South Sudan that was scheduled for today has been postponed.

This would have been first time for the peace dialogue to involve many parties, including former political detainees as well as the government and SPLM in opposition delegates.

The Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Mawien Makol said the exact reason for the postponement is not yet clear.

“They are saying that there was a concern about the other side regarding to the way the civil society has been formed,” said Amb Makol.

For his part, IGAD’s Chief Mediator, Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin said the SPLM in opposition complained about the way the selection of participants was carried out.

“The SPLM/A in Opposition delegation has written complaints on the representation of other political parties and civil society organizations and for that reason they have absented themselves not to join us for the launch,” he said.

IGAD says the launch of the inclusive talks is “a milestone event” as the former detainees, other political parties, civil society and faith leaders will sit at the negotiation table for the first time.

Last week in Addis Ababa, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar agreed to form an interim Government within two months.

The meeting reviewed the mediation process of the IGAD Special Envoys and considered the calls by the public to immediately end the hostilities.