South Sudanese groups will return to Kenya for peace negotiations

The government team from South Sudan is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, on Saturday to begin discussions for enduring peace and stability in the youngest country in the world.

Since last year, peace negotiations between South Sudan’s transitional government and recalcitrant opposition organizations have been taking place in Nairobi under the name Tumaini, which means hope in Swahili. However, they were put on pause to allow for more consultations between the parties.

According to Kuol Manyang Juuk, the government’s lead negotiator for the Tumaini peace talks, all sides are committed to talks aimed at achieving long-term peace, stability, and unity in South Sudan.

Juuk emphasized the necessity for the remaining opposition factions to join the peace movement when he stated, “We hope that we will reach an agreement,” at a briefing in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Under Paul Malong Awan, the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), one of the holdout parties, declared its support for the Tumaini peace offer.

In order to ensure long-term peace, stability, and progress in the nation, the remaining opposition factions are also prepared to begin negotiations, SSUF Spokesperson Garang Malual Deng told Xinhua.

The Tumaini Initiative peace talks, headed by Kenya, started on May 9, 2024, but were put on hold in July after several parties expressed dissatisfaction with some modalities that were suggested.

Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, and William Ruto, the president of Kenya, met in Juba on November 6, 2024, and decided to restart the negotiations. The leaders gave the mediation team instructions to get back together and settle any lingering problems within two weeks of signing the final accord.

A later adjournment of the discussions was made in December 2024 to accommodate more consultations.