The Secretary General of the Community of Sant' Egidio Paolo (from left) and Presidential Affairs Minister Marial Benjamin speak to the media after a meeting with President Kiir. (Photo: Office of the President).

The Secretary General of the Sant’ Egidio Community in Italy, met with the government in Juba on the possibility of resuming the peace talks with non-signatory groups.

Paolo Impagliazzo met the Minister in the Office of the President, after the government’s lifting of suspension on the Rome peace negotiations.

Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said last week, that the government is willing to resume political engagement with the non-signatory opposition alliance.

In response, the opposition parties expressed readiness for the talks, but questioned the timing as the announcement comes ahead of the Pope’s visit.

However, they called on the government to be genuine once the peace talks resume.

Speaking on the state-owned TV, SSBC, Paolo Impagliazzo who is the Sant’Egidio Secretary General said the team was grateful for the President’s decision to resume talks.

He described the meeting as a big step to achieving peace and stability in South Sudan.

“We are grateful to president Salve Kiir for the possibility to resume and restart the political dialogs with non-signatory parties,” he said.

“We believed it’s a big and important step forward to bring peace and stability to South Sudan.”

The Sant Egidio Community Secretary General is in Juba as part of receiving Pope Francis and other global church leaders.