Kenyan Pres Uhuru Kenyatta stands amidst released political detainees - Jan, 2014. Photo by Kenyan Presidency.

The 7 political leaders who were released last month by the government of South Sudan have agreed to take part in the second round of talks as an independent bloc, IGAD has said.

The IGAD mediation team says the 7 politicians, now in the custody of the Kenyan government, requested to remain neutral.

The head of the IGAD mediation team, Ambassador SeyoumMesfin, said the leaders will not be part of the government delegation team or the delegation of the SPLM/SPLA –in Opposition in the Addis Ababa talks.

“They don’t want to be participating on the side of the government or on the side of the SPLM/A- in Opposition,” said Ambassador Mesfin.

“They would rather like us to prepare a sort of triangular table for their negotiations.”

Ambassador Mesfin said IGAD will consult the government and Dr. Riek Machar’s group on the involvement of the 7 former detainees in the talks.

“Nevertheless, it is our understanding that both parties want them to contribute to the negotiation process. A call for their release was basically in recognition of their role in the political process. They are not only members of the SPLM party, but they were also high officials and members of the leadership of the party.”

IGAD says the talks that were scheduled to start yesterday will now kick off today, as soon as the seven former detainees arrive in Addis from Nairobi.