Kiir, Machar agree to hold ‘expanded’ presidency meeting on Tumaini tomorrow

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar have agreed to convene an expanded meeting of the presidency tomorrow to discuss the resumption of the Tumaini (“Hope”) Initiative, Tut Gatluak, presidential security advisor, announced on Thursday.

The decision to hold the meeting comes one day after sources revealed that President Kiir had formed a new negotiation team to replace the previous one, whose leader and presidential envoy was removed by presidential decree last week.

The new team, led by SPLM deputy chair and senior presidential advisor Kuol Manyang Juuk, is supported by senior SPLM-IO member and minister of petroleum Puot Kang Chol, who serves as deputy, and cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro, who is appointed as the team’s rapporteur.

Kiir and Machar held a meeting at the state house in Juba on Thursday afternoon, where they discussed various issues, including the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and the country’s economic challenges.

One of the key topics addressed was the Tumaini (or Hope) Initiative, a peace process spearheaded by the Kenyan government at the request of President Kiir to include nonsignatory groups in the revitalized peace agreement.

“President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny convened to assess the implementation of the Revitalized peace agreement, as well as the means to address the current economic challenges, including the critical flow of oil through Sudan as this is aimed at fostering sustainable peace and stability in the country,” the presidency stated.

“During the meeting, President Kiir instructed the Finance and Petroleum Ministers to coordinate robust efforts to stabilize the economy and improve citizens’ welfare. He said the government is aware of the plights of the population, expressing commitment to salvage the situation,” the statement continued.

Tut Gatluak, Kiir’s security advisor, speaking to the media after the meeting between Kiir and Machar, confirmed that the two leaders had reviewed the agenda for the upcoming presidency meeting, which is scheduled for tomorrow Friday.

“An expanded meeting of the Presidency is scheduled for Friday to deliberate on the resumption of the Nairobi Tumaini Peace Initiative, following a report from the high-level mediation committee on the ongoing talks between the government and opposition holdout groups,” Gatluak said.

He also reiterated the government’s “commitment to achieving lasting peace and stability throughout the nation as it embarks on extensive mediation efforts.”

Sources in Nairobi have informed Sudans Post that the new team formed by Kiir has led to some reservations among opposition groups, who believe it includes individuals opposed to the Tumaini process.

One opposition figure told Sudans Post this afternoon that they were informed by the Kenyan mediation about the new team but were surprised to find that it included individuals they consider to be hardliners against Tumaini.

“President Salva Kiir Mayardit nominated these new members [of the government negotiating team] with the intention to kill the talks simply because most of those nominated are anti-Tumaini,” the opposition figure said, requesting anonymity.