Kenya-mediated Tumaini peace talks set to resume on Monday

JUBA – South Sudanese opposition officials in Nairobi, awaiting the government delegation for Kenya-led peace talks, have confirmed that discussions aimed at integrating nonsignatory opposition groups into the revitalized peace agreement are scheduled to resume next week.

Opposition leader Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang, speaking to Sudans Post this evening, said that opposition representatives met with the Kenyan mediation team earlier today and were informed of changes to the South Sudan transitional government’s mediation team.

Buay who is the leader of the South Sudan People’s Movement (SSPM) said the talks are now expected to resume on Monday.

“This is to confirm that today, we met the mediation. All of the opposition parties who are currently in Nairobi, and we were informed by the Kenyan government mediation that the government of South Sudan has changed its team to the Tumaini Initiative,” General Buay said.

“Therefore, if the government has shown up, the mediation said that the talks will definitely resume next week,” he added.

He emphasized their “unwavering commitment to make sure that this phase is utilized in a very meaningful manner by all the parties because our people cannot wait just because the parties are not serious.”

A civil society leader, speaking anonymously due to a lack of authorization to address the media, noted that today’s meeting was initially intended as a prelude to a session with the government delegation, which did not arrive.

However, he said that Kenyan head of mediation Lazaro Sumbeiywo later sent a letter confirming that the talks would resume on Monday. Additionally, a separate consultation with the South Sudan government is planned, with their delegation expected to arrive in Kenya on Saturday.

The letter, seen by Sudans Post, referenced a recent diplomatic mission by Kenyan President William Ruto to Juba and a joint communiqué on resuming the peace process.

“Following the mission of H.E. President William Ruto to Juba on 6th November 2024 and the Joint Communique on the resumption of the peace process, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit has promptly constituted the RTGONU delegation to the Tumaini Initiative,” it read.

“In view of this and on the way forward for the Tumaini Peace Initiative, the peace talks will resume on Monday, 18^th November 2024, at Glee Hotel with a view of concluding within the proposed timeframe,” it added.

This development follows an agreement earlier today between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar to hold an “expanded” meeting of the collegial presidency tomorrow.

The meeting will focus on the resumption of talks mediated by the Kenyan government at South Sudan’s request.

Last week, President Kiir appointed a new government negotiation team after removing the previous leader in a presidential decree over the weekend.

However, several government insiders told Sudans Post that there is discontent within the government, as many view the new team members as opponents of the Tumaini Initiative.