By William Madouk
Government’s chief negotiator for the Tumaini peace talks and a senior presidential advisor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, has revealed that the government delegation will return to Nairobi on January 18th to commence the next round of negotiations.
Juuk made this revelation during a meeting with the Norwegian ambassador to Juba, Mr. Roar Haugsdal.
The meeting focused on the Tumaini peace talks, the crucial need for the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), and preparations for upcoming elections.
“We talked on the progress of the Tumaini peace agreement and we will be going to Nairobi on the 18 of this month to continue the peace talks and we hope that we will reach an agreement,” Juuk told SSBC on Tuesday.
Gen. Juuk, who serves as a senior presidential advisor and the newly appointed chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), noted they want holdout groups to join the peace wagon.
“What we need is to get our brothers and sisters who are out there to join us, to come to the country so that we come and build the country together. There are many rooms in South Sudan where the person or anybody can fit in and start to contribute in nation building,” he emphasized.
Regarding election preparation, he said arrangements are ongoing to ensure a favorable environment for peaceful, fair and creditable elections at the end of 2026.
He further noted that doors are open for those who would love to monitor the general polls.
“Arrangement is taking place and I am sure also that we will make sure that we conduct elections that will be peaceful and will be monitored by anybody that is interested to come and monitor but we be peaceful,” he stressed.
For his part, the Norwegian ambassador to South Sudan, Mr. Roar Haugsdal said “Today I met with presidential advisor Kuol Manyang we discussed Tumaini peace talks in Nairobi Norwegian strongly supports and also the necessity to implement the R-ARCESS peace agreement.”
“We highlight the importance of holding the elections and making necessary preparations,” he added.
Delivering his solemn wishes in his New Year’s message, President stated that the peace negotiations in Nairobi would resume on January 6, 2025, but its mid-January and the government delegation is yet to jet to Kenya.
He also called on the opposition group to show patriotism and put the interest of the country first.
In an interview with SSUF/A official spokesperson, Garang Malual Deng Yaak, said the holdout groups are ready for talks resumption only that the government delegation has not arrived in Nairobi.
“The government delegation has not arrived in Nairobi for the reasons known to them,” said Yaak.
“Secondly, we the holdout groups or non-signatory to the 2018 peace are ready to back for talks,” he added.