Western nations call for flexibility ahead of South Sudan peace talks

JUBA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three Western countries on Thursday called on South Sudan's warring parties to make concessions during the next round of peace talks slated for Monday in Ethiopia.

The United States, Norway and Britain which are members of the Troika (peace deal guarantors) said to achieve a sustainable peace, no party to the conflict can have undue influence or a veto on the process, including the government.

"All parties must engage sincerely and make concessions in the national interest; otherwise, the conflict and suffering will continue," said the peace guarantors.

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will convene the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) for the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan on Dec. 18 in Addis Ababa.

The Western nations said IGAD's ability to solve this crisis depends on unity of purpose amongst its members, and called on regional countries to speak with one voice.

"As the Troika has previously stated, the HLRF and its outcome must be genuinely inclusive and reflect the political reality of South Sudan today," they said.

The Troika vowed to stand with IGAD in its efforts to make progress toward peace and effective implementation of the Agreement and warned of severe action against those who obstruct the process.

The Western countries stressed that the peace forum is a unique and critical opportunity to make progress towards peace.

They said humanitarian, economic, security, human rights and political situation continue to deteriorate with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan.

According to Troika, over half the population now lack enough food to feed themselves and a third of the population have fled their homes, causing the largest refugee crisis in Africa.

"This situation is intolerable to the region and the international community. It cannot continue," they said, and called on the government to adhere to its repeated public and private commitments to participate in the peace forum in good faith, and with the immediate goal of stopping the fighting.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel chief Riek Machar led to split within the SPLA, leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the conflict was weakened after outbreak of renewed fighting in July 2016 caused the SPLA-in opposition rebel leader Machar to flee the capital. Enditem