South Sudan opposition refuses to renegotiate nine protocols, says Pagan

NAIROBI – The leader of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) in the Kenya-led peace initiative, Pagan Amum, has rejected the possibility of renegotiating the nine protocols signed in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024.

The protocols agreed upon during the first round of talks, remain a contentious issue as the government and opposition parties have yet to resolve sticking points delaying the signing of the Tumaini Consensus.

Addressing stakeholders at the reopening of talks in Nairobi on Wednesday, Amum, who also leads the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), emphasized the need to finalize the discussions.

“This resumption is to finalize and conclude Tumaini consensus. This is not a time to reopen or renegotiate what has already been agreed upon,” said Amum.

He added that this round of talks should mark the last attempt to save South Sudan from what he described as “total disintegration” and a potential “collapse into chaos and disorder.”

“I would like to appeal to all delegates to recommit ourselves to genuine search for peace and approach this resumption with open hearts and sincerity,” he said.

Kuol Manyang Juuk, the government’s chief negotiator at the Tumaini Initiative, acknowledged missteps by political leaders since the country’s independence, attributing them to a lack of experience in governance.

“Since achieving independence, South Sudan has been struggling to set pace for state building. We acknowledge that mistakes were made, particularly due to our inexperience in governance,” said Manyang, who also serves as the Presidential Advisor on Special Programs.

He stressed the importance of learning from past errors to rebuild the nation’s future.

“However, we must not let these setbacks define us. Instead, they should serve as lessons motivating us to rectify our errors and build a brighter future for our children,” he said.

The talks are part of the Tumaini Initiative, launched on May 9, 2024, to resolve conflicts between the transitional unity government and holdout opposition parties.

In December 2023, President Salva Kiir requested Kenyan President William Ruto to take over the mediation role from the Community of Sant’Egidio, an Italian peace organization that had previously facilitated the talks in Rome. President Kiir had expressed dissatisfaction with the stalled progress in Rome, citing the failure to achieve a lasting resolution.

The Kenya-led peace efforts faced a setback in July 2024 when certain South Sudanese government representatives raised objections to specific mechanisms proposed in the negotiations.

The Tumaini Initiative has brought together major holdout groups, including the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Pagan Amum, the South Sudan United Front led by former SSPDF Chief of Staff Paul Malong Awan, and the South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) under Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang.