Radio Miraya
2728: Peace Talks in Nairobi, Kenya: The secretary-general of the Community of Sant'Egidio, Paolo Impagliazzo
[MUSIC PLAYING] You are listening to a special broadcast of the South Sudan peace talks in Nairobi, Kenya on Radio Miraya, the voice of peace. [MUSIC PLAYING] Yes, Sunny Martin, good morning. Welcome back. Can't tell us what's happening there. Yes, good morning. Once again, at the background, if you hear a lot of noise, we are just not far from the main road, and missing the park. That's why we are in the venue. Like you rightly introduced, we have already with me here, the second general of Santigidio, Paolo. And remember, Santigidio initiated this process in 2019. And the process was in Rome. It came to Kenya. There was some agreement reached. Let's find out from Paolo here. What is their role? In this ongoing negotiation in Nairobi, Kenya, good morning, Paolo. And thank you so much for accepting to talk to Radio Miraya at a very short notice. Good morning. Good morning. And good morning to everybody sitting today. OK. First of all, could you tell us why you stopped last time in this peace process? Let me say something about the Nairobi talks first. So Santigidio received the visit of this Excellency. We are in Rome in our reporters at the end of January this year. And the president of the decided to engage Santigidio and to give us the role of co-mediator during this peace initiative, peace talks. We are now here with this role. And we are glad to continue what we have done in Rome and also to share our experience in the last four years with the Nairobi talks. And of course, the development. These Nairobi talks are important, really very important. And because our aim is to stop the violence, of course, and to have an inclusive process. So we are glad to be here and we are glad to contribute to this initiative. So what is the difference between the Rome talks and this Nairobi talks? Is there any difference? Yeah. I think that the venue is something different. We were in Rome and we are now in Nairobi. The idea of the shift mediate or some bio is also to bring one board that there are parties that were not part of the Rome initiative. So to broaden a little bit, then the number of stakeholders that will be attending. And that's something different. And we just spoke to the minister of information, Michael Mapo a few minutes ago before you came on air. He says, from a serial, who is leading the National Salvation Fund, he's not at the venue here. Are you in touch with him as a commigator? Of course, we are in touch with him. San Tejidio, also Gerald Sombay, who is in touch with Gerald Thomas Chirillo. We both spoke to him and it seems that for now, Gerald Thomas Chirillo is not coming to Nairobi. He has his political concerns and security concerns. That's what Thomas Chirillo told us. And that's why we will see in the future. So what are the concerns of what Thomas is going to come and attend these drops in Nairobi? Because I just received a message a while ago saying that Ambassador Emmanuel and Thomas Chirillo's approach to this is not fair for peace in South London. A message I just got up from one of the people I was chatting with, whether they arrived last night, because you were told, the likes of Pacana Mom, Stephen Boy will be arriving last night. So what are the main concerns as to why Thomas Chirillo is not attending these talks in Nairobi? OK. What Thomas told us and the children of Sombayo, there are both security concerns because of some South Sudanese that were abducted from Nairobi. And also the idea that for them, Rome is the best, but then you to continue these political dialogue because they would like to continue the idea what-- I mean, to reciprocate what Pope Francis did for South Sudan, kneeling and kissing the feet of the leader of South Sudan. So for them, what they told us, and in some way, and also the deputy mediator, Ambassador Julio, is that they would like to continue in Rome because they would like to respect Pope Francis and to reciprocate your Pope Francis to today. Of course, they accepted the Kenyan mediation, but they prefer to continue these talks in Rome. As a core mediator, what's your role here now? Of course, you facilitate the political dialogue between the non-signatories and the governments. This is our main role. What about in terms of those who are exclusively become Nairobi? What about those who are not willing to come to Nairobi? Of course, we are talking to them. And let me say that Sante Gidio already had two in negotiation here in Kenya, one in Nairobi during our Roman initiative. So we are fully comfortable with Kenya, and we also understand the concerns of all the parties. But we are here to testify and witness that it is important to continue the political dialogue. Of course, we are open to all the necessary steps. So what are your expectations as part of these talks in Nairobi? The expectation is always the same. Let me say that to reduce the violence and to have an inclusive dialogue for South Sudan and to bring about the lasting peace in the country. OK. Thank you so much, Paolo, for talking to Rade Mirai this morning. And thank you. Thank you for inviting me. Yes. Yes, that was Paolo, the Secretary General of Sante Gidio. Remember, they initially started this peace process in Rome. From Rome, they came to Kenya in Russia. There was some agreement reached. So here we are. And like I said, the expectation is that their launch is going to happen here officially this afternoon. And the ready mirror will be cutting it to life from the State House here in Nairobi.