{{The government of Kenya refused to allow the seven freed Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-In-Opposition) leaders leave Kenya to Ethiopia to attend the second round peace talks with the South Sudanese government, a rebel official said on Sunday.}}
Nonetheless, rebel sources from Nairobi say the freed political leaders would eventually fly to Addis Ababa on Monday to join the talks after clearing a misunderstanding with Ugandan authorities.
A member of the rebel negotiating team in Addis Ababa, who preferred anonymity, late on Sunday told reporters that Kenya declined to allow them leave for Ethiopia claiming their bail terms demanded that they stay within Kenyan territory.
The official opening of the next round of talks is slated to resume on Monday, February 10, 2014 despite the decision taken by the Kenyan government.
The rebel official said his negotiating team is demanding that they come to Addis Ababa and attend the peace talks.
He further warned the SPLM-In-Opposition negotiating team would not engage in the talks opening Monday unless the seven political figures arrive in Addis Ababa at least Monday morning.
“This is because that they [the seven leaders] are the only delegation we have so far,” he added.
The seven political figures were freed on 29 January and arrived in the Kenyan capital the same day following a ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa on January 23.
Following their release, South Sudan’s minister of Justice, Paulino Wanawilla Unago, told reporters that the seven leader were moved to Kenya for safety reasons.
He however added, “presidents from our neighbouring countries had promised (…)” to bring them back to Juba “when there is a need for further investigation, especially if they are found later to have participated in the failed coup attempt”, he said.
{Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, center, receives seven of the 11 leaders accused of plotting a failed military coup in South Sudan in December on 29 January 2014}
{sudantribune}
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