by Denis Elamu
JUBA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- One of South Sudan's key peace partners to the 2015 peace agreement on Friday called on regional peace monitors to carry out unified consultation instead of reaching out to individuals.
Dhieu Mathok, Minister of Electricity and Dams and Secretary General of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) branch led by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, in the transitional unity government (TGoNU) said the upcoming revitalization process by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should consider all parties to the agreement as one.
"Automatically the government (TGoNU) must be consulted not as individuals. We are not negotiating the peace agreement, we are revitalizing the peace agreement and TGoNU is significant mechanism of implementation of this peace agreement," he said in Juba.
In June, the IGAD launched a forum to revive the weakened peace agreement in the wake of renewed July clash last year by including other estranged opposition groups, besides the main rebel SPLA-IO faction led by former First Vice President Riek Machar.
"We were not consulted on mechanism on how the consultation should be done. We believe this is not a serious matter, the IGAD will realize our position as genuine issue, because the government is there and if they talk of revitalization they must have to consider TGoNU," Muthok said.
"We are not refusing the consultation but the consultation must take into account there is a government in place which is implementing the peace agreement," he added.
He said the consultation must be done at the presidency, ministerial level including other political groups in the TGoNU.
The IGAD revitalization is set to commence on Oct. 13-17, which will see various participants, including civil society.
Mathok also urged armed groups to embrace the revitalization seen by many as the last effort at bringing peace to end the more than three years of violence in the war-torn country.
"We are not quarreling of being called SPLA-IO peace wing and we call on the rest of the groups who are factions of war to join peace agreement. This is the only way we can rescue our country," he said.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that the SPLM party reunification talks were moving forward after formation of tripartite committee to work out the documents of implementation of the 2015 Arusha agreement.
"We believe that the meeting will resume soon in Entebbe, such that we finalize and fast track implementation. We hope that in the coming months the SPLM will be one," he added.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, forcing Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
