South Sudan's warring parties began talks Friday with mediators in Ethiopia, as both sides ignored calls for a cease-fire.
Negotiators met separately with representatives from the
regional trade block, known as the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development, or IGAD in Addis Ababa. These preliminary talks aim to
narrow differences that have led to clashes killing more than 1,000
people and displacing nearly 200,000.
The mediators hope both sides of the conflict can hold
direct talks on Saturday, according to a spokesman for Ethiopia's
foreign ministry, Dina Mufti.
The modest beginning marks a breakthrough for African-led
efforts to end more than two weeks of fighting in the world's youngest
nation. The conflict--which pits the country's President Salva Kiir,
against his former deputy, Riek Machar--threatens to render South Sudan
along ethnic lines and upend its oil industry. Energy exports account
for nearly all of South Sudan's exports and foreign revenue.
The talks so far haven't stopped the fighting. Rebels
backing Mr. Machar have staked claim to two states, Unity and Jonglei.
Forces loyal to Mr. Machar on Wednesday recaptured the strategic town of
Bor, around 120 miles north of the capital Juba. That was the same day
the rebel delegation arrived in Ethiopia for talks.
South Sudan's military spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, said
the rebels seized the town in an attempt to "gain an upper hand at the
talks." He also accused them of conscripting civilians to bolster their
ranks in preparation for an assault on the capital.
"We have sent more reinforcements," said Col. Aguer. "We are aware of their intentions to advance toward Juba."
A rebel spokesman could not be reached for an immediate
comment. Mr. Machar's loyalists accuse Mr. Kiir of human rights abuses
and quashing political dissent--charges Mr. Kiir's government dismisses.
The two men belong to different ethnic groups. Mr. Kiir is an ethnic
Dinka while Mr. Machar is a Nuer.
Also on Friday, the U.S. State Department Friday ordered a
further drawdown of embassy personnel from Juba citing the deteriorating
security situation in the country.
"We continue to urge U.S. citizens in South Sudan to depart the country, " according to the State Department statement.
Efforts to broker a cease-fire ahead of talks have
faltered. The fighting has disrupted around a quarter of the country's
240,000 barrels-a-day of crude production after rebels captured the oil
producing town of Bentiu, in Unity state. South Sudan exports the bulk
of its crude to refiners in China.
The crisis prompted China's chief envoy in Africa, Zhong
Jianhua, to hold talks Thursday with the Ethiopian foreign minister,
Tedros Adhanom.