China-supported consultations reactivate peace process in S.Sudan

South Sudan Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin smiles with opposition delegation after a special consultation in support of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-led South Sudan peace process in Khartoum January 12, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

KHARTOUM -- The Special Consultation in Support of the South Sudan Peace Process led by the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) has reactivated the ongoing endeavors to reach a peaceful settlement of the violent conflict in South Sudan.

Khartoum on Monday hosted the consultation meeting on the conflict in South Sudan with the participation of foreign ministers from China, Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia, besides representatives of South Sudan's rebels and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

The consultations, patronized by China, have received appreciation from South Sudan's two conflicting parties, which welcomed China's role in bridging the gap between the two South Sudanese rivals and ending the violence in the newly-born state.

To this end, South Sudan's Foreign Minister Barnaba Benjamin told reporters following the consultations that "we welcome the Chinese role which we believe is constructive and seeks to resolve the conflict in South Sudan."

"We hope these consultations, under China's patronage, would put the IGAD-led negotiations on the right track," he noted.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Karti, speaking at a press conference following the consultations, said the conflicting parties in South Sudan have agreed on five points.

"The five points which have been agreed upon included immediate cessation of hostilities, accelerating the formation of a transitional government and implementing it as soon as possible, taking concrete steps to relieve the humanitarian situation in the conflict zones and working to facilitate delivery of international humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese citizens, and supporting the IGAD efforts aimed at achieving peace in the newly-born state, " Karti said.