The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirillo has returned to GAD-led peace talks with the government in Khartoum, a senior opposition official said on Friday.

On 5 August, General Cirillo who is a member of the opposition alliance, declined to sign the peace deal in Khartoum to form a power-sharing government, saying the deal was favouring the government side.

Gabriel Changson Chang, interim leader of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), told Radio Tamazuj that the opposition group led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo which refused to sign the deal has rejoined the ongoing peace talks in Khartoum.

“We have talked to General Thomas, so as a result he sent his negotiating team to Khartoum and its now part of the ongoing peace talks,” he said.

Changson, who is also the leader of the opposition Federal Democratic Party (FDP), urged General Cirillo to come back to Khartoum when time comes for the final signing of the peace agreement.

“All of us as members of SSOA, we want to be part of the peace process,” Changson said.

Separately, the opposition leader pointed out that efforts are ongoing to reunite the two factions of the National Salvation Front (NAS). “We hope that the two groups will reunite under one umbrella of NAS,” he said.

Meanwhile, the South Sudan’s Opposition Alliance, a consortium of nine opposition groups, said it is trying to reconcile the two factions of the National Salvation Front (NAS).

The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS), a member of the opposition alliance, is facing an internal crisis. A top army general in the movement identified as Khalid Butrous has recently declared himself the leader of the group to replace Thomas Cirillo.

General Cirillo, a former deputy army chief of staff for logistics, has been at the helm of NAS movement since it was formed last year.