![President Salva Kiir Mayardit being greeted off by his first deputy Riek Machar at Juba airport as he departs to Kenyan capital Nairobi on Saturday, August 19, 2023. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/REVIVE-SOUTH-SUDAN-PARTY-RSSP.jpg?resize=1640%2C924&quality=89&ssl=1)
JUBA — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit departed for the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Thursday afternoon, where talks between holdout groups and the government are poised to commence.
The discussions, aimed at quelling rebellions by various opposition factions, are mediated by Kenya and are slated to commence tomorrow.
In a statement, the presidency announced Kiir’s departure to attend the launch of the peace talks, also noting his anticipated meetings with Kenyan leaders to discuss bilateral relations.
“H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit this morning traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the launch of the Nairobi Peace Process between the government and the holdout groups who did not sign the 2018 peace agreement,” the presidency statement said.
According to Kiir’s press secretary Lily Albino, the head of state will hold bilateral meetings with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto.
The holdout groups consist of armed organizations that refrained from signing the revitalized peace agreement brokered by Kiir and several opposition factions in September 2018.
Despite the signing of that agreement, clashes between the government and various armed groups such as the National Salvation Front (NAS) persisted in many parts of the country, including the Equatorial region.
An initiative by the Community of Sant’Egidio to facilitate dialogue between the government and the holdout groups failed to yield results due to a lack of willingness from the parties involved.
