South Sudan: Rebels seek leverage in talks

Geza Ulole · 2014-02-18T17:38:32+00:00

Posted on Tuesday, 18 February 2014 17:14 South Sudan: Rebels seek leverage in talks By Konye Obaji Ori South Sudanese rebels on Tuesday morning reportedly attacked an oil field and captured Malakal town in violation of a ceasefire agreement, a development likely to jeopardise peace talks between the government and the insurgents. Despite the ceasefire signed in January 23, rebels clashed with government forces, and took control of the oil-producing Upper Nile state. We have been calling on the envoys to expedite the establishment of the monitoring mechanism Observers say the takeover of Malakal may be aimed at improving the rebels' hand ahead of a second round of peace talks in Ethiopia. Makalal is a key oil producing town and its fall to the rebels threatens South Sudan's economic lifeline. Since the conflict intensified in December, South Sudan says it has cut oil production by a fifth to 200,000 barrels per day. Rebel control of Malakal could significantly reduce the number of oil output.Oil accounts for 98 percent of South Sudan revenues. South Sudan blamed the rebel take over on the lack of progress made deploying regional observers to crisis areas. "We have been calling on the envoys to expedite the establishment of the monitoring mechanism but nothing has happened so far," South Sudan's Information minister, Michael Makuei told reporters. The insurgents and the government have each traded accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement. Reacting to rebels' attack and takeover of Malakal, Makuei said: "It is a flagrant violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by both sides". Peace talks in Ethiopia failed to resume last week, because the rebel forces did not get their demands. The rebel's demand that four remaining political prisoners held by the South Sudanese government be released before negotiations resumed. The rebels are also wary of Ethiopia, whom they accuse of supporting South Sudan. Conflict broke out from a power struggle between South Sudan President Silva Kiir and his former deputy. Thousands of people have been killed and more than 800,000 have fled their homes since December. Many of the displaced people had fled to Malakal for protection, but have now been caught in the crossfire. Read the original article on Theafricareport.com : South Sudan: Rebels seek leverage in talks | East & Horn Africa Follow us: @theafricareport on Twitter | theafricareport on Facebook MY TAKE Seems another country will be annexed out of SS since the conflict has a long way to go and i do see anyone neutral among the IGAD members to solve the conflict

Thread starter Geza Ulole
Start date Feb 18, 2014

Geza Ulole

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South Sudan: Rebels seek leverage in talks

Geza Ulole

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