![Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. [Photo via newsinenglish.no]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/52047516344_ac6c754e9e_c.jpg?resize=799%2C533&quality=89&ssl=1)
Eide met with South Sudanese peace parties participating in the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi. He emphasized the importance of domestic solutions.
“But also, what was said that this should actually be the last time you need to fly out of the country to come to a different country,” Eide said. “You need to solve your problems at home.”
Eide clarified that the Tumaini Initiative shouldn’t aim to replace the 2018 agreement.
“And I want to underline that a very essential part of what I understand is a common understanding, and I hope I’m correctly informed that this is not a meeting to make a new agreement,” he stated.
Eide stressed his belief in the 2018 pact’s potential to bring peace and stability if implemented effectively.
“You have an agreement, a 2018 agreement. This is about how you implement it to identify what went wrong, what you can do better, how you actually implement what you already agreed to,” he said.
“This is the task at hand, and that narrows down the scope, but it also makes it clearer what you are here to do. So, I really believe in this. I believe what was just said, and I like those words,” he added.
The Norwegian diplomat highlighted the importance of the rule of law and human rights in achieving lasting peace.
“We will support you. We will be with you. But the key is governance. The key is respect for the rule of law. The key is human rights, which should be universally applied to all people,” he said.
Eide also urged the leaders to address the economic challenges faced by the South Sudanese people.
“And the issues of economic growth and prosperity and how to share the resources of oil, we have a lot of experience in that in Norway, how to manage the economy. That comes once you get your house in order, once you get governance,” he added.
