Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary at IGAD, urged delegates at the Tumaini peace talks to find lasting solution for peace, so as to move away from the common phrases such as Revitalized

By: Emmanuel Mandella

H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has issued a stark warning during the resumption of the Tumaini Peace Talks, calling for immediate and decisive action on South Sudan’s peace process. His remarks underscored the urgency of the talks and the region’s collective responsibility to ensure peace in South Sudan.

“There is only one ‘R’ in the alphabet. We have used that on the Revitalized Agreement and the Relaunch. We cannot say relaunch of the relaunch. This is the last chance,” H.E. Ware declared, stressing the critical importance of implementation once an agreement is reached.

Ware reflected on IGAD’s continuous efforts to mediate and sustain dialogue among South Sudanese stakeholders, emphasizing that the region’s stability depends on South Sudan’s peaceful resolution of its internal conflicts. “We owe it to the partners. We owe it to the region because a peaceful South Sudan will impact all the neighbors,” he stated.

The Tumaini Peace Talks, which were launched with optimism, are now being “relaunched” in what many view as a make-or-break moment for the country’s peace process. While the talks have seen a series of agreements and protocols, conclusion has lagged, with the talks being halted when one of the key parties, the SPLM-in opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar pulled out.

“I am not so worried about coming to an agreement,” Ware remarked. “But now, the focus must shift to implementation. We cannot afford to lose more time or opportunities.”

His comments come against the backdrop of heightened expectations among participants and the people in South Sudan. As a key IGAD member state, South Sudan’s peace is not only a national imperative but also a regional necessity.

The resumption of the Tumaini Peace Talks has brought various groups together, including the South Sudan government delegation, led by Gen. Kuol Manyang as well as the holdout groups- who were not signatories to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

IGAD and its partners, including the mediation team in Nairobi, hope to play a crucial role in bringing the groups into an agreement, to shape the path to a peaceful South Sudan, with sources within the parties taking part in the negotiations hinting that this could be the most viable opportunity for South Sudan to realize peace and stability.

The coming days will unpack various talking points, and offer a highlight towards the direction of the talks, even as the country waits with much hope for their results.

“There is only one ‘R’ in the alphabet. We have used that on the Revitalized Agreement and the Relaunch. We cannot say relaunch of the relaunch. This is the last chance,” H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).