Political parties, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in Western Equatoria State have expressed their views against some provisions in the proposed Compromise Agreement.

They say the draft agreement should not propose a long period for reintegrating the forces as it was in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that paved the way for the independence of South Sudan.

The CPA had stipulated that each side – SPLM and NCP – retained its forces. The current IGAD proposed peace deal also advocates for retention of armies.

The groups presented their joint position to the state governor, Joseph Bakosoro, requesting IGAD mediation team to revise the proposal. Mr Bakosoro agrees with this position.

“This is an internal conflict among brothers; we cannot take CPA as a replication of the event that we have now,” Mr Bakosoro told Eye Radio.

“So the agreement should be a different one not approaching the type of CPA type.”

Delegates negotiating in Addis Ababa are yet to agree on the key issues, including power sharing and the demilitarization of Juba.