By Philip Buda Ladu
As a living testimony of his efforts to achieve sustainable peace in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the restructured government delegation to the Tumaini peace talks in Nairobi, Kenya to make breakthrough on sticky issues with the holdout groups.
The head of state who had continuously reiterated his promise of not taking the country back to war again in his time made the directive during a meeting with the team on Thursday as they make final preparations to return to the negotiating table in Nairobi.
“Kiir met and discussed broadly with the newly restructured Government negotiation team to the Nairobi Tumaini Peace Initiative, urging them to engage and dialogue with the non-signatories to the 2018 peace agreement and seek a potential breakthrough to consolidate sustained country’s efforts on lasting peace in the country,” read a statement from the office of the President.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro who is the new rapporteur of the re-energized gov’t delegation to the talks said the team is set for Nairobi this week.
“The necessary arrangements have been completed for the team to meet with the holdout groups in Kenya this week and jump-start negotiations with renewed momentum as per the directives,” Lomuro told the media after the meeting with the president.
Meanwhile, President Kiir emphasized that the goal of the team is to return with a comprehensive peace plan that ensures sustainable stability for the nation ahead of the slated polls in 2026.
The new delegation headed by Senior Presidential Advisor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, is scheduled to travel to Nairobi to engage in talks with the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA).
Gen. Kuol had vowed to bring peace to South Sudan.
The Tumaini Initiative, a peace process aimed at resolving outstanding issues in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), is in its final stages.
South Sudan has faced turmoil and conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, culminating in a civil war that erupted in December 2013.
This violent conflict has led to widespread suffering, displacement, and a deep humanitarian crisis affecting millions.
Numerous efforts to broker peace have been made, yet many negotiations have faltered, exacerbating frustrations.
The Tumaini peace initiative, led by Kenyan President William Ruto, was launched in May 2024 as a renewed effort to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation with holdout opposition groups, following the stagnation of previous Rome talks led by the Community of Saint Egidio.