The senior presidential advisor said they are ready to meet the will of the people and the urgency of ending South Sudan’s protracted conflict.

By Emmanuel Mandella

The head of the government delegation for the Tumaini Peace Initiative, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, has declared the team’s readiness to conclude the talks within the shortest time possible.

Gen. Kuol, the senior presidential advisor, said they are ready to meet the will of the people and the urgency of ending South Sudan’s protracted conflict.

Speaking to the media before his departure to Nairobi for the talks, Kuol acknowledged that his change of heart was driven by public consensus.

“When the majority speaks, I listen,” Gen. Kuol said. “I believe the path to peace is the right one, and I am moving forward with an open heart to bring our people back home.”

Gen. Kuol emphasized that while the Tumaini protocols would not be renegotiated, adjustments would be made to align them with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“Tumaini should not be seen as a parallel agreement to the R-ARCSS but as an enhancement,” he clarified. “We are refining earlier points to ensure they enrich the R-ARCSS, not replace it.”

Also, he highlighted concerns raised during earlier negotiations when certain protocols conflicted with the legal framework established by the R-ARCSS.

Kuol confirmed that preparations for the resumed talks were progressing smoothly, stating some delegation members are already en route to Nairobi, with the rest, including himself to travel this week.

“Our budget has been approved, and talks will begin in the coming days,” he revealed, adding that the focus would remain on achieving sustainable peace.

In an appeal to the South Sudanese people, Gen. Kuol expressed optimism about the peace process.

“We have suffered since 2013. Every conflict has a solution. We are not going into these talks to preserve positions of power but to create space for others. Peace is possible, and it is the key to unlocking South Sudan’s potential.”

Reflecting on his long-standing role in the liberation struggle, Kuol added, “I did not join the movement to be a ruler but to ensure that our people are free.”

“It is time to build and develop our country, which is rich in resources but lacks the human element to transform them into prosperity for all.”

Launched in May 2024 in Nairobi, the Tumaini Initiative is a Kenya-led mediation process aimed at incorporating holdout opposition groups into South Sudan’s peace framework. The initiative, spearheaded by Kenyan President William Ruto and former Army Commander Maj. Gen. Lazarus Sumbeiywo, took over from the Rome-based Sant’Egidio mediation at the request of President Salva Kiir.

The talks stalled in July due to government concerns over certain mechanisms but are now resuming with renewed commitment from all sides. Holdout groups include the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (headed by Pagan Amum), South Sudan United Front (Paul Malong Awan), South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang), and National Salvation Front Revolutionary Command Council (Gen. Mario Loku Thomas).

As the Tumaini talks prepare to resume, all eyes are on Nairobi, where the fate of South Sudan’s peace process will be shaped. Gen. Kuol’s leadership marks a pivotal moment, as the nation’s leaders and opposition groups seek to end over a decade of suffering and forge a path toward unity and stability.

“Peace is not just a government priority, it is a national necessity,” Gen. Kuol concluded. “Together, we can rebuild South Sudan for generations to come.”