By Deng Ghai Deng
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has sent a special message delivered through his Special Envoy and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Chol Ajongo to Kenyan President William Ruto, amid delays in the resumption of talks.
The envoy met with Kenyan officials at the State House in Nairobi to discuss the ongoing peace process and the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations.
After receiving the message, whose details were not revealed, Kenya’s President William Ruto emphasized the urgent need for lasting peace in South Sudan, stressing its importance not only for the citizens of the country but also for the broader East African region.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, President Ruto underscored that the Tumaini Initiative, a peace effort bringing together both government and opposition parties, remains central to achieving this crucial goal.
“The Tumaini Initiative continues to offer leadership for this noble task,” President Ruto wrote.
Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting peacebuilding efforts in South Sudan.
The Tumaini Initiative has been a significant framework for fostering dialogue and cooperation in South Sudan, which has faced years of internal conflict.
Regional leaders, including President Ruto, have been instrumental in supporting the peace talks, emphasizing that stability in South Sudan is critical for the security and prosperity of the entire Horn of Africa.
However, the much-anticipated resumption of peace talks between the South Sudan government and holdout opposition groups were delayed after the government delegation failed to arrive in Nairobi on November 11, as initially scheduled.
The Kenya-led Tumaini (Hope) Peace Initiative, which was expected to restart on Monday, hinges on the participation of both the government and opposition representatives.
The peace talks were originally set to resume after President William Ruto visited Juba last week, where he met with President Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar, and other key stakeholders in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).
The discussions were expected to build on the progress made since the peace initiative’s launch in May 2024.
The Tumaini Peace Initiative aims to mediate and resolve conflicts involving holdout opposition groups that have yet to endorse the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). So far, nine key protocols have been agreed upon, marking notable progress in the peace process.
Despite some setbacks, including a significant delay in July when the South Sudanese government raised concerns over proposed mechanisms, the initiative has continued to attract international support.
Major international donors, including the Troika group of nations, have expressed backing for the Tumaini talks.
The initiative involves several holdout opposition groups, including the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Pagan Amum, the South Sudan United Front led by former SSPDF Chief of Staff Paul Malong Awan, and the South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A), led by Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang.
These groups have long resisted the peace deal signed in 2018, and the ongoing talks are seen as critical to achieving lasting peace in South Sudan.
The delay of the peace talks highlights the ongoing challenges in the peace process and raises questions about the parties’ commitment to the mediation efforts.