Juba residents grow sceptical about peace talks
The luxury of the five-star Addis Ababa hotel where peace talks are underway could not be more remote from daily life in Juba.
Delegations representing President Salva Kiir and the rebel leader Riek Machar first convened in the Ethiopian capital more than a week ago but talks have progressed at a snail’s pace, despite international pressure.
Daily life in Juba continues amid uncertainty, shortages and fear, residents told The Niles.
I am hopeless,” said Atem Ngor, adding that he expects nothing fruitful from the talks”.
He said he followed news on the discussion but didn’t expect any progress as the two parties are distinct[…], we are awaiting zero”.
The violent conflict, which began almost a month ago, has escalated across half of the states in the young nation, killing thousands and forcing hundreds of thousands more to flee their homes.
Mou Angelo Akot, finalist Student of Mass Communication in University of Juba said he blamed conflicts within the ruling SPLM party rather than ethnic divisions between the two biggest tribes, the Dinka and the Nuer.
He took a dim view of the chances for a deal in the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa. This violence will lead to civil war but not because of tribal dimension as people thought,” Mou said.
As fighting spread to Jonglei State and the oil-producing Unity State, the peace talks have done little to protect the people, locals complained.
Meanwhile, the dialogue has stumbled on the rebels’ condition that the government releases a number of politicians detained on accusations they were part of an alleged coup plot.
Despite international pressure, President Salva Kiir has refused to release the detainees.
Resident, Okech Benson Body, said talks would only work if the two parties reduce their demands.
Let the rebels remove the precondition to end hostilities and tell the government why they took arms against the government. Let them surrender and apologise to the government and the people of South Sudan in whole,” Okech said.
