South Africa mediates South Sudan peace process

South Africa says South Sudan's parties to the 2018 peace deal are
closer to resolving all outstanding issues that have been delaying
formation of the unity government.

South Africa's Deputy President, David Mabuza has been mediating
between South Sudan's conflicting parties in Juba.

Patrick Oyet reports.

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VO...
One of the key sticking points in South Sudan's peace process has been
how many states should make up the country.

And each of the political factions still have different views.

But South Africa's Deputy President who's mediating between the
parties is hopeful the issue of the administrative units can be
resolved.

SOT/English
DAVID MABUZA, SOUTH AFRICA'S DEPUTY PRESIDENT.

"There is a renewed commitment to see the people of South Sudan regain
their peace, regain their freedom so that we can start in earnest to
deal with the issues that concern them "

VO.....

However, another contentious issue is security sector reforms.

The opposition group led by designated vice president Riek Machar says
it wants the various armed groups combined, retrained and redeployed
before forming a new government.

President Salva Kiir's group says the reforms are a process that will
take time and believes the issue should not derail the formation of a
unity government.

The parties are scheduled to meet again before the end of this month
and the mediator says that would be the last round of talks to iron
out any outstanding issues.

The talks are scheduled to resume in about ten days time.
South Sudan's government says it will use the period between now and
the resumption of the talks to conduct the necessary consultations
Martin Elia Lomuro is South Sudan's Cabinet Affairs Minister

SOT/English
MARTIN ELIA LOMURO, SOUTH SUDAN'S CABINET AFFAIRS MINISTER
SOT/English
"The decision made by the regime in Khartoum and later by competing
leaders in SOuth Sudan were political and complex and hence difficult
to resolve with the shortest time."

VO...South Sudan's parties....

Pretoria says it will continue to help Juba to try to find lasting
peace in South Sudan.

For now, that solution has still not been reached.

PATRICK OYET, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN