By Yiep Joseph
Activists in South Sudan are calling on the government to engage General Thomas Cirilo Swaka, leader of the National Salvation Front (NAS) in hopes of achieving inclusive peace in the country.
This appeal comes as the Tumaini Initiative has nearly succeeded in bringing other members of the holdout groups into the peace process, while attacks allegedly carried out by NAS continue in various parts of the country.
In an interview, Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) encouraged Cirilo to join the holdout group in dialogue with the government.
“The Center for Peace and Advocacy urges General Thomas Cirilo Swaka and opposition groups to unite with one another in the pursuit of total peace for the country,” Gatwech stated.
The activists emphasized the need for collective responsibility and effort from all stakeholders to achieve lasting peace in South Sudan.
Ter acknowledged the concerns expressed by General Cirilo and called on him to consider compromise and join the peace effort.
He also commended the South Sudan government for its ongoing efforts to engage the holdout groups in the quest for peace in the region.
“CPA also welcomes the efforts of the governments of Kenya and South Sudan to engage all stakeholders in this important process,” he said.
He appealed to the government and South Sudanese to settle all issues and focus on solutions to peace and reconciliation.
“It is essential to address ongoing issues with a focus on finding durable in order to attain peace,” he said.
On his part, Dengbil William Aguer, Interim Leader of the Youth-led African Peoples Congress (APC), called on the South Sudan government and other parties not part of the Tumaini to prioritize peace.
He added that for inclusive peace, there is a need to ensure that all parties dialogue and address their differences.
“There is a need to bring Thomas Cirilo on board and include him in peace because I think Thomas Cirilo has some concern, although those were not necessary to take him to the bush,” Deng said.
He expressed that although the Tumaini did not manage to bring Thomas Cirilo to the peace table, there is a need to seek avenues to bring him back for dialogue.
“Tumaini was not bad; if it were inclusive and brought Thomas Cirilo to the table, it would have made sense, but still, the government can engage Thomas and others who are still outside the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ghai Chol, the leader of the People’s United Forum and the Chairman of the Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP), expressed the need for South Sudanese leaders to engage in dialogue in order to attain peace.
In May, the leader of the National Salvation Front (NAS), General Thomas Cirilo Swaka, rejected the Nairobi peace talks, advocating instead for a “roundtable conference” encompassing all stakeholders.
Despite a permanent ceasefire agreement, NAS has continued fighting government forces in various parts of the Greater Equatoria region.
Since 2020, NAS has engaged in the Rome initiative, a peace process facilitated by the Community of Sant’Egidio. The talks collapsed last year, prompting President Salva Kiir Mayardit to seek Kenyan mediation.
Kenyan mediators extended an invitation to Cirillo for the ongoing peace negotiations.
However, he declined, citing the failure of the Rome initiative due to what he characterized as the government’s lack of commitment to a peaceful solution.