Cirillo reiterates rejection of Nairobi talks, pushes for roundtable conference

JUBA – The leader of National Salvation Front (NAS) General Thomas Cirilo Swaka reiterated his rejection of the ongoing Nairobi peace talks, advocating instead for a “roundtable conference” encompassing all stakeholders.

In a statement posted on X Platform (formerly Twitter), Cirillo criticized the Nairobi initiative for excluding a comprehensive discussion on the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan.

“South Sudanese are being robbed of the opportunity of holding a Roundtable Conference that would allow them to discuss and resolve the root causes of the conflict in the country and agree on important pillars for the establishment of their new nation and peaceful coexistence,” Cirilo wrote.

He reaffirmed NAS’s stance, alongside its allies in the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), demanding a “Roundtable Conference of Stakeholders” to facilitate credible and genuine negotiations.

Cirillo emphasized the need for a suitable environment conducive to achieving sustainable peace.

Cirillo participated in the negotiations leading to the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018. However, he withdrew from talks in August 2018, citing the government’s dominance in the process.

Despite a permanent ceasefire agreement, NAS has continued fighting government forces in various parts of the Greater Equatoria region.

Since 2020, NAS engaged in the Rome initiative, a peace process facilitated by the Community of Sant’Egidio. The talks collapsed last year, prompting President Salva Kiir Mayardit to seek Kenyan mediation.

Kenyan mediators extended an invitation to Cirillo for the ongoing peace negotiations.

However, he declined, citing the failure of the Rome initiative due to what he characterized as the government’s lack of commitment to a peaceful solution.