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Roundup: S. Sudan's peace monitors holding consultations over political crisis

Xinhua, July 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan's peace monitors have been holding consultations with various parties over the country's political crisis after President Salva Kiir sacked his rival Riek Machar as First Vice-President.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), which is overseeing the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal, said on Wednesday it was following carefully the recent political developments in South Sudan.

"Our only interest is to see a solution that promotes peace and a return to normality as well as security in South Sudan," said JMEC chairman Festus Mogae in a statement, vowing that JMEC will remain impartial.

The statement said Mogae had held productive talks with Kiir and Taban Deng Gai, a former peace negotiator that replaced Machar as vice president, as well as two members from Machar-led Sudan People's Liberation Movement In-Opposition (SPLM/IO).

According to JMEC, Kiir expressed his willingness to consider the deployment of a regional protection force to South Sudan in accordance with the recommendations of a recently-concluded Summit of African Union Leaders.

Machar left Juba after days of deadly clashes between his SPLM/IO forces and Kiir-led government troops in the capital city earlier this month.

Kiir issued an ultimatum last week demanding Machar return to Juba within 48 hours, followed by Gai's appointment on Tuesday.

There has been considerable debate in Juba as to whether the recent developments are in line with the peace agreement that led to the formation of a national unity government in April after more than two years of civil war between troops of Kiir and those loyal to Machar.

Mogae has also held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn, who is the chairperson of Eastern African bloc IGAD that has been overseeing peace process in South Sudan, over the latest developments and the way forward for South Sudan.

"Due to the complexity of the issues involved, this is a matter that should be considered and deliberated upon by the JMEC members, both the South Sudanese and our international partners," the statement said.

Mogae has also met with officials from the UN and the African Union over the political impasse.

The JMEC plans to convene high-level discussions before making representations in front of the United Nations Security Council in August.

The UN on Tuesday warned Kiir that any political appointments must be consistent with the peace deal.

There are fears the resurgence of rift between Kiir and Machar could plunge the world's youngest country into full-scale war again. The civil war that erupted in December 2013 left tens of thousands dead. Endit