The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has denied that its soldiers were involved in the killing of a cleric and several other people in Lainya County of Central Equatoria on Tuesday, 1 June.
The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) faction, led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, in a statement released yesterday welcomed last week’s renewal of the arms embargo on South Sudan by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Troika (USA, UK, and Norwegian) envoys in South Sudan have urged the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and the government to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table, SSOMA led by General Thomas Cirillo said in a statement on Monday.
Talks with holdout groups to resume in June -Sant Egidio
The secretary-general of the Community of Sant Egidio, Paolo Impagliazzo says talks between the South Sudan government and holdout opposition parties will resume in June in Rome, Italy, though specific dates are yet to be set.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this week, Impagliazzo said talks with the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo scheduled for early this month were postponed following the death of the rebel General Abraham Wani and other security concerns. That is why we are still in discussion with the representatives of SSOMA to set up a new date for the dialogue. Of course security concerns but also the discuss outstanding issues on the declaration of principles that the government of South Sudan and SSOMA discussed last December. We have to take some steps forward to achieve the declaration of principles, he said.
At least four government soldiers and a civilian were killed in Barawul Payam of Maridi County in Western Equatoria State on Friday according to the state information minister.