The IGAD Chief negotiator says the organization will launch South Sudan’s second round of peace talks this evening in Addis Ababa as soon as the seven former political detainees arrive in the Ethiopian capital.

The IGAD chief negotiator, Seyoum Mesfin, told journalists in Addis last night that the talks are postponed because the seven former political detainees have not yet arrived from Nairobi.

Mr. Mesfin quoted the seven released political detainees as saying they will be part of the second round of peace talks as an independent body, not as members of Riek Machar’s team or the government’s team.

Earlier, the SPLM/A in Opposition set three pre-conditions for the talks:

Firstly, all the remaining political detainees must be released. Next, the government forces surrounding the UNMISS camp in Juba must move away from the area. Thirdly, all of Uganda’s troops must withdraw from South Sudan.

Mr. Mesfin said that the demands made by the SPLM/A in Opposition do not reflect the reality and should not be put as a condition for the negotiation process, adding this may not contribute to progress.

The former Ethiopian foreign minister added that Dr. Riek Machar assured IGAD member of states that the presence of UPDF troops in South Sudan and the fact that four political officials are still being detained should not hold back the peace talks in Addis.