The Minister addressed concerns and rumors surrounding the delay, labeling them as unfounded and detrimental to the nation’s progress

By Emmanuel Mandella

The South Sudan government has confirmed its readiness to participate in the second phase of the Tumaini peace talks, an initiative aimed at fostering sustainable peace in the country. The talks, originally slated for November 11, 2024, in Nairobi, were delayed due to the absence of the government delegation, a situation now resolved according to Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Elias Lomuro.

Dr. Lomuro announced during a press briefing that the budget for the delegation had been officially approved, and General Kuol Mayang had received authorization to proceed after securing the President’s approval. “We are going to bring peace to our country,” Dr. Lomuro stated. “This is the last talk we need to have among ourselves to ensure total peace for everybody. We deserve to be a peaceful, prosperous country.”

The Minister addressed concerns and rumors surrounding the delay, labeling them as unfounded and detrimental to the nation’s progress. “Whoever is spreading rumors out there, I want to tell you that we are honest and transparent. Let’s work towards peace,” he asserted.

The Tumaini peace initiative aims to address conflicts and unite South Sudanese factions under a shared vision for stability. The process has garnered attention for its inclusivity, with opposition leaders and key stakeholders already convened in Nairobi, waiting for the government delegation.

On November 19, Dr. Mohamed Ali Guyo, Deputy Chief Mediator of the Tumaini Initiative, urged patience as the government delegation prepared to join the talks. Speaking during a routine briefing, Dr. Guyo assured the public of the initiative’s readiness to proceed.

“Our mediation team has put in place all the necessary infrastructure to ensure smooth negotiations aimed at achieving the Tumaini consensus. All opposition leaders and stakeholders are present in Nairobi. We are simply waiting for the government delegation to arrive so we can formally open the session and move forward,” Dr. Guyo said.

The Tumaini peace talks represent a critical moment for South Sudan, a nation that has endured decades of conflict. With the September 2018 revitalized peace agreement as a foundation, stakeholders hope the Nairobi discussions will yield lasting solutions for unity and prosperity.

Dr. Lomuro emphasized the historic importance of the peace talks, reflecting on South Sudan’s turbulent journey from the war in 1947 to the current efforts for reconciliation. “This country has come out of a long period of war. It’s time for us to ensure peace for all. Let’s seize this opportunity to create a peaceful future.”

In a meeting that was anticipated with match optimism after the failure of the first one to take off, On Monday last week, South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) and other Opposition groups at the Tumaini peace Initiative expressed their disappointment after the government delegation failed to show up for the talks for the second time.

They said the new delegation committee recently formed by President Salva Kiir for Tumaini had not reported for the peace talks, which were to kick off on Monday (November 18) in Nairobi.

A statement released to the media by the opposition groups noted that the SSOMA and other groups, stakeholders, regional and international observers have honoured the invitation but the government failed to show up again.

“The absence of the government delegation to the talks demonstrates the government’s insensitivity to the plight of the people of South Sudan,” said Lual Dau, Secretary General and Spokesperson of SSOMA and Opposition Groups.

Dua stated that the previous week, SSOMA and other Opposition Groups received the second invitation for the resumption of the Tumaini Peace Initiative on Monday the 18^th of November 2024.

“However, the government of South Sudan, as expected, failed to turn up again. Meanwhile, the opposition, stakeholders, and regional and international observers have honoured the invitation. This repeated abscondment of R-TGONU shows the dearth of political will to rescue the State from imminent collapse and total disintegration resulting from its failure to implement its own agreement, the R-ARCSS, over the past six years,” he stated.

With the talks set to resume, the government’s pledge to engage transparently and inclusively has reignited hope for a resolution to South Sudan’s enduring challenges.

“We are going to bring peace to our country. This is the last talk we need to have among ourselves to ensure total peace for everybody. We deserve to be a peaceful, prosperous country,” Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Elias Lomuro.