S Sudan Talks Stall Again Over Political Prisoners Officials in Ethiopia say peace talks for South Sudan are stalled over the issue of political prisoners. Two officials described the talks as "on and off" after the special envoy of a bloc of East African countries known as IGAD flew to South Sudan to speak about political detainees. Ethnic-based violence broke out in South Sudan on Dec. 15. President Salva Kiir says his former vice president, Riek Machar, tried to launch a coup. Machar's side is demanding the release of 11 high-level detainees. Kiir has said they will be released according to judicial procedures.