WASHINGTON – Today the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) announced the start of direct talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between the parties to the conflict in South Sudan.
According to the U.S. State Department, the parties must use these talks to make rapid, tangible progress on a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, and the status of political detainees.
“We urge the Government of South Sudan to uphold its commitments and release political detainees immediately,” a State Department spokeswoman said. “To be meaningful and productive, discussions of political issues requires the presence of the senior SPLM members currently detained in Juba, among others.
These talks are of critical importance to the people of South Sudan. There can be no military solution to this conflict. Forging a durable and lasting peace depends on resolving the underlying political causes of the conflict. Special Envoy Booth’s presence at the talks in Addis Ababa underscores our enduring commitment to peace, reconciliation, and a unified, democratic South Sudan.”
