By Deng Ghai Deng
A prominent political analyst has warned that the decision by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) to withdraw from Nairobi peace talks could severely undermine the peace process.
Prof. Dr. Abraham Kuol Nyuon, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Juba, described the Tumaini (Hope) Initiative, as the last hope to breathe new life into the expiring peace agreement-the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“In the absence of elections by December, the Tumaini Initiative, once signed by all parties, could potentially rejuvenate R-ARCSS,” Nyuon stated.
“However, the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal jeopardizes this prospect, as they are key in decision-making regarding the extension of the agreement.”
The SPLM-IO’s Political Bureau convened in Juba, on Tuesday, and unanimously voted to exit the Kenyan-mediated talks, citing dissatisfaction with protocols recently initialed under the Tumaini Initiative.
According to a resolution seen by this publication, the opposition faction accused the negotiations of straying from their original purpose.
Particularly contentious is the establishment of a proposed National Leadership Council (NLC), which the SPLM-IO contends would wield unchecked authority, potentially superseding constitutional bodies such as the Presidency, Council of Ministers, National Legislature, and National Security Council.
Reacting to the developments, Dabek Mabior Arok, Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance and a member of the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) Board, expressed cautious optimism about the initialing of eight protocols but stressed the need for alignment with the R-ARCSS.
“We urge the chief mediator to heed the concerns raised by SPLM-IO and strive for reconciliation among all parties,” Arok emphasized.
“The Tumaini Initiative should complement and reinforce the existing peace framework in South Sudan, not operate in isolation.”
Arok highlighted the complexity of achieving sustainable peace in South Sudan, stressing the importance of continuous dialogue and compromise among stakeholders.
Representatives from the South Sudanese government, other opposition groups, and mediators in Nairobi have yet to publicly respond to the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal.