Opposition groups see Kenya talks as ‘rescue plan,’ not rival to 2018 deal

NAIROBI – South Sudanese opposition groups not party to the 2018 peace agreement say ongoing talks mediated by Kenya aim to address the root causes of conflict, a key demand they say the 2018 deal failed to achieve.

The government and a number of opposition groups, including the SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar, signed the Revitalized Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018. However, implementation has largely stalled beyond power-sharing arrangements.

Machar who under that agreement was made the first vice president and give 9 ministerial positions last week expressed concerns that the Kenya-led “Tumaini Initiative” could undermine the R-ARCSS.

But four opposition leaders involved in the Nairobi talks said in two statements on Sunday the aim is to develop a comprehensive “Rescue Plan” for the world’s youngest country in light of what they called a failure of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The purpose of the negotiations is to address the root causes of the conflict by developing a coherent and concrete Rescue Plan for South Sudan. Thus, the Parties and the Mediation started developing the Tumaini Consensus and mobilizing regional and international support to rescue South Sudan,” said a statement from Pagan Amum (Real-SPLM leader), Stephen Buay Rolnyang (SSPM leader) and Paul Malong Awan (SSUF leader).

They argued that the R-ARCSS has failed after nine years, including the three years before its revitalization. The “Rescue Plan” could incorporate unimplemented provisions from the prior agreement.

The opposition leaders urged the parties to the R-ARCSS to “cease and desist from squabbles over the R-ARCSS and the persistent attempts to protect positions in the R-TGONU (Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity). We, as South Sudanese, should seize this golden opportunity of the Tumaini Initiative to focus on rescuing our country and ending the suffering of the people and usher the Country into permanent peace and a new democratic dispensation.”

In a separate statement, Laraka Machar Turoal, leader of the opposition Patriots Resistance Movement (PRM) acknowledged limited progress under both the R-ARCSS but admitted similarities in them.

“The distinction between the Tumaini Initiative and the R-ARCISS is challenging as both seek to address the longstanding issues affecting the people of South Sudan since the onset of turmoil in 2013. While much discussion has centered on their compatibility, our stance remains clear,” he said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Amidst the persistent conflict, insufficient progress has been made to restore peace, yet we acknowledge the efforts of the R-ARCISS signatories in this regard. Thus, the Tumaini Initiative remains crucial in the quest for a lasting solution, and we extend our gratitude to the Presidents of South Sudan and Kenya for undertaking this daunting task to end the bloodshed in the region, particularly South Sudan,” he added.

“The four thematic topics of the Tumaini Initiative align with the suffering of our people and are consistent with the endeavors of the R-TGoNU. Notably, the constitution-making process, a pivotal aspect, should remain a local endeavor supported by the Tumaini Initiative, as agreed during the program’s group discussions,” concluded Turoal.