Those ready to join the negotiation table include Dr Riek Machar, Dr Lam Akol, Mr Joseph Bangazi Bakasoro and former army chief General Thomas Cirilo.
The deputy co-chair for the National Dialogue, Mr Gabriel Yoal Dok, confirmed that the key opposition leaders were currently in talks with the Steering Committee, adding that the talks were bearing fruits for the first time.
Juba, Thursday. Key South Sudanese opposition leaders have expressed their readiness to join the National Dialogue following the pressure from the international community.
Those ready to join the negotiation table include Dr Riek Machar, Dr Lam Akol, Mr Joseph Bangazi Bakasoro and former army chief General Thomas Cirilo.
The deputy co-chair for the National Dialogue, Mr Gabriel Yoal Dok, confirmed that the key opposition leaders were currently in talks with the Steering Committee, adding that the talks were bearing fruits for the first time.
"We are in a dialogue with Dr Machar, Dr Akol and Gen Cirilo, among others, because they responded positively when contacted.
"There is no way they can ignore it," Mr Dok said after holding a closed door meeting on Wednesday in Juba with the African Union Representative for Peace in South Sudan, Mr Alfa Musa Konario.
He further stressed that the National Dialogue would continue to persuade the key opposition leaders until they embrace peace and stability.
Mr Dok further said there was hope that the opposition leaders would send their representatives to Juba if unable to attend the talks in person.
Information Minister Michael Makuei on Wednesday acknowledged the difficulty of fully implementing the peace agreement signed in August 2015 between the SPLM warring factions.
The agreement expires in six months time after which South Sudan should hold elections.
