By Bosco Bush
First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny expressed willingness to work with opposition holdout groups who aim to join the government through the Tumaini Peace Initiative for South Sudan, with the goal of fostering lasting peace in the country.
His comments came as the Tumaini peace talks resumed on November 11, after a prolonged deadlock that stemmed from issues related to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS).
Dr. Machar expressed satisfaction with the return of all holdout groups, stating, “We would be happy to see them joining the government for inclusive participation.”
However, he emphasized that the Tumaini Initiative should complement the R-ARCISS, a point he has raised previously.
During his discussion with the U.S. envoy, they also addressed key aspects of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, particularly concerning public financial management, transparency in public revenue, and the political and civic space in the country.
In a media briefing after the meeting, U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Adler reaffirmed the U.S. government’s strong and unwavering commitment to supporting the people of South Sudan.
He urged the South Sudanese government to enhance transparency regarding public revenue and the allocation of funds for essential services, including healthcare and education, as well as ensure the timely payment of salaries and other arrears.
Ambassador Adler also reiterated his government’s call for all parties, both signatories and non-signatories, to fully support the Nairobi talks aimed at expanding peace and promoting political and civic space within the country.
The Tumaini Peace Initiative, launched on May 9, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, is a high-level mediation effort aimed at addressing the conflict in South Sudan by incorporating all holdout groups that have not signed the 2018 R-ARCSS (Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan).