By William Madouk
After a peace deal with Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the National Security Service (NSS) now works to convince other holdout groups to join the process.
Gen. Thomas Cirilo, leader of the National Salvation Front (NAS) is on the top list in National Security pursuit for lasting peace in the country.
“The National Security Service is still will keep engaging those holdout groups that did not sign the agreement. And it’s our mandate, including General Thomas, we still pursue for peace to reign in the country,” David John Kumuri, Director of Public Relations in the National Security Service Internal Bureau while receiving Kitgwang military advanced team at Juba International Airport.
Now the ball is at Gen. Cirilo’s court on whether to join peace talks for comprehensive or not, as they are yet to comment on the matter.
Although the National Salvation Front (NAS) leader participated in the Rome Initiative mediated by the Community Sant’Egidio and signed the Rome Declaration to stop hostilities and ceasefire, Cirilo has stayed away from the Nairobi-led peace talks dubbed, Tumaini Initiative.
In December 2024, NAS spokesperson, Samuel Suba reiterated their position of not taking part in the negotiations, saying that ‘talks are just a renewal of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement which we did not agree to or sign because it did not address solutions for South Sudan to attain genuine peace.’
Meanwhile, there have been mounted calls to have more parties that did not sign the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to join the Tumaini Initiative for an all-inclusive negotiation.
President Salva Kiir, in his New Year’s address to the nation, called on South Sudanese leaders and opposition groups to compromise and prioritize patriotism, unity and leadership over politics.
“We are in a transitional government made up of parties to the agreement. I do not foresee it just to leave any party behind, nor isolate some of the existing parties to the agreement,” Kiir said, adding:
“I implore us to compromise; to accommodate all the parties for the time has come where leadership is needed more than politics. Politics is casted on positions seeking and self-interest; but leadership is about vision for a better tomorrow, for the next generation.”