The intra-party meeting which took place in Tanzanian city of Arusha is not replacing the Addis Ababa Peace talks, a member of the SPLM Political Bureau has said.

Akol Paul Kordit says the Arusha meeting was aimed at uniting the different factions of the SPLM after the split that occurred in the part and led to the current crisis.

He clarified that the SPLM intra-party dialogue in Arusha and the negotiations in Addis are separate forums, which he says both could pave a way for a lasting peace in South Sudan.

“There could be a misunderstanding among our people that the framework agreement will be a substitute to the Addis Ababa talks which are being mediated by the IGAD,” Mr. Akol told Eye Radio’s Dawn program.

“No. But, they are indirectly linked because they might only clear the way for how things are moving in Arusha and make the negotiation smoother in Addis Ababa.

“The difference is that the talks in Addis Ababa are national issues at the level of the country.

“While in Arusha, we take it from the party point of view because we know that these problems originated in South Sudan’s ruling party, the SPLM”.

Mr. Kordit said the SPLM will continue with its dialogue on the framework document, which was signed in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday.