Kiir urges 2 holdout Sudanese rebel leaders to join Juba Peace Deal

JUBA, FEBRUARY 20^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Sunday called on leaders of two Sudanese holdout opposition groups to join the 2022 Juba Peace Agreement.

In his remarks during the signing of a new matrix for the implementation of the agreement in the South Sudanese capital on Sunday, Kiir asked holdout groups to join the negotiating table to fast-track the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement for peace in Sudan.

The holdout groups include the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) led by Gen. Abdelaziz Adam El Hilu, and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM/A) led by Abdul Wahid Nur.

“I would like to once again call upon General Abdelaziz Adam El Hilu, the leader of the SPLM-North and Ustaz Abdul Wahid Mohamed al Nur, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement to seriously consider joining the Juba Peace Agreement. The lasting peace in the Sudan will remain elusive until these leaders join the peace train,” Kiir said.

Kiir noted that the lasting peace in the Sudan will remain elusive until the leaders join the train for peace.

“As a Guarantor, our shared historical values and common interests demand that we work for stability to ensure prosperity for our people. It is our desire for peace in the Sudan that compelled us to host numerous rounds of negotiations between the Transitional Government and various oppositions groups,” he said.

“As the guarantor who led the process let me reiterate on behalf of other guarantors that this workshop is not a parallel political process or a renegotiation of Juba Peace Agreement.”

“Juba peace agreement is intended to contribute to the ongoing dialogue in the Sudan about options for transition and best approach towards the issue of democratic transformation,” he said.

On 19^th February 2023, Sudan transitional government and various opposition groups under the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) signed implementation matrix and agreed to a two-year time table for implementation of the Juba peace agreement.

Among the key issues in the signed matrix include, security arrangements for Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile state.

The second issue is on wealth and power sharing with opposition groups in central and northern Sudan.