Addis Ababa, 2 September 2014 (WIC) – Chairperson of the IGAD Special Envoys to South Sudan Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin said SPLM/A- in opposition cannot deny the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Matrix.
The party claimed that the accord it signed was not the Implementation Matrix rather it is the re-dedication for the COH agreement.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, Ambassador Seyoum said SPLM/A’s recent statement that they didn’t sign the Implementation Matrix is unacceptable since the re-dedication is an integral part of Implementation Matrix.
He further indicated that the opposition party has no ground to use this as a pretext to stay in the conflict.
The Implementation Matrix has two components, the first is the Matrix itself which demands the warring parties to disengage their troops and de-escalate the crises.
The other component is the protocol that dictates the way the two parties sharing power in the 30- month long transitional government.
The two parties however, hold different stands with the Matrix and the Protocol in that the SPLAM/A- in opposition stated unless the protocol is signed, they wouldn’t sign the Matrix and the government forces in their part urged the ceasefire is the prerequisite for the protocol, he said.
According to the Special Envoy the warring parties’ lack of commitment to adhere the agreements is the reason South Sudan to stay in conflict.
Despite the above facts, IGAD tries its best to enable the warring parties come to terms and end the conflict as well as enable the people of South Sudan access to
humanitarian assistance, he added.
Some 180,000 South Sudanese citizens have fled to Ethiopia since war has broken in that country and millions trapped in the war. Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese have also fled to Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.(ENA)