South Sudan’s government team is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi to restart peace negotiations aimed at establishing stability and unity in the nation. Dubbed the Tumaini talks, these discussions began last year but were paused for further consultations. Both sides, including holdout opposition groups, express a commitment to achieving durable peace through these resumed talks.
South Sudan’s government delegation is set to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday to renew discussions aimed at promoting enduring peace and stability in the nation. These negotiations, known as the Tumaini talks, have been taking place in Nairobi since the previous year and were temporarily deferred to allow for additional consultations.
Kuol Manyang Juuk, the chief negotiator for the South Sudanese government, expressed a strong commitment from both sides towards achieving durable peace and unity in the country. He emphasized the importance of the holdout opposition groups joining these efforts, stating that there is hope for reaching a mutual agreement.
The South Sudan United Front (SSUF), representing the holdout factions under the leadership of Paul Malong Awan, has also demonstrated readiness to engage in the Tumaini peace talks. SSUF spokesperson Garang Malual Deng conveyed the group’s commitment towards collaborating to achieve lasting peace, stability, and development for South Sudan.
The Kenya-led Tumaini Initiative commenced on May 9, 2024, but encountered obstacles in July due to concerns over specific negotiation mechanisms. Following a meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on November 6, 2024, it was decided to reconvene the mediation team to address unresolved issues within a two-week timeframe before finalizing the agreement.
The Tumaini peace talks represent a crucial step towards addressing the long-standing conflict in South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011. The discussions involve the transitional government and various opposition groups that have been resistant to previous peace agreements. The aim is to foster lasting peace and stability in the region, which has faced numerous challenges following years of civil unrest and political instability. The return to negotiations in Nairobi signals a renewed commitment from involved parties towards finding common ground.
The resumption of peace talks in Nairobi signals an important development for South Sudan, emphasizing the unified goal of achieving enduring peace and stability. Both the government and holdout opposition groups have expressed their commitment to the negotiations, highlighting the critical nature of collaboration in addressing past grievances. This initiative, under the leadership of Kenya, aims to provide a framework for lasting solutions to the ongoing challenges facing South Sudan.
Original Source: english.news.cn
