![South Sudan negotiating team arriving in Nairobi, Kenya for talks with nonsignatory opposition groups to the revitalized peace agreement on Thursday, November 28, 2024. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/468430298_1138086108319441_6156371909563212053_n-1.jpg?resize=1023%2C510&quality=89&ssl=1)
The negotiations, part of the ongoing Tumaini Peace Talks, aim to address key political and security concerns that have hindered previous efforts to achieve stability under the revitalized peace agreement.
Observers and stakeholders have urged both sides to demonstrate commitment and flexibility to ensure meaningful progress.
Kuol Manyang Juuk, senior presidential advisor and head of the government negotiating team, told the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Saturday that the delegation would travel to Kenya ahead of the talks.
“We are today travelling to Kenya, the 18th of January 2025, and the talks will be begun on Monday,” Manyang said.
“I am telling our people that we are serious, we want to discuss and see if they [holdouts] are serious then we will make peace. Because our country needs peace and everybody needs peace,” he added.
Manyang, who also chairs South Sudan’s National Transitional Committee (NTC), emphasized that achieving a peace deal is a long-term process. He urged holdout opposition groups to return to the country, organize, and prepare for the upcoming elections.
“We are been serious even when we went first and we are now going with the same spirit, we are not going to surrender but we are going to convince our people that no reasons for them to remain outside,” he explained.
“If they choose to oppose the government, then they [can] come and register their political party, organize themselves and prepare themselves for elections in 2026, so I hope we will convince them to come back,” he added.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday, Manyang confirmed their arrival in Nairobi and the resumption of the peace talks. He expressed hope for progress on contentious issues.
“This is to confirm our arrival in Nairobi. The talks with the holdout groups have commenced and we are hopeful that there is going to be progress and I want to stress that it is time that everyone return to the country so that they can be part of the process to achieve peace and stability,” he said.
Stephen Buay Rolnyang, opposition leader and head of the South Sudan People’s Movement (SSPM), also confirmed the resumption of talks.
“The government delegation has arrived and the peace talks have resumed today. As I speak, we are in a break and we will be back in the negotiating table in a few minutes,” Buay told Sudans Post by phone from the Kenyan capital.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called on the Tumaini parties to expedite efforts to finalize the peace deal.
Yakani stressed the need for government and opposition leaders to demonstrate a change in attitude and make necessary compromises to achieve peace and stability.
“CEPO strongly welcomes the return of the government delegation to Tumaini Peace Talks this week,” he said.
“It is promising if the parties on the mediation table can take key compromises per the framework of the proposal of the Kenya mediation on bridging or compromise proposal for reaching the final deal for securing political stability,” he added.
Yakani emphasized that the success of the Tumaini talks depends on the political leadership’s commitment from both sides in engaging with the Kenya-led mediation process.
“This round of mediation is real exposure of South Sudanese political elites before the citizens and the regional and international community if they really committed to peace and stability,” he said.
“CEPO is urging with high respect and honour for the president and the leadership of the opposition groups to take serious responsibility for making this round of Tumaini Peace Talks succeed without any dragging of feet or failure,” he added.
