SPLM-IO Kitgwang invited to Nairobi peace talks

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual has been invited to join the ongoing Nairobi peace talks, a senior official said.

Jordan Manpiny, head of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang foreign relations committee, told Sudan Post in a phone interview on Thursday that they received the invitation from Kenyan mediators three days prior.

“Yes, this is to confirm that SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang has received an invitation from the Kenyan government for us to join the Nairobi initiative,” Manpiny said.

He elaborated that the leadership is carefully considering the invitation before responding.

“The invitation was delivered about three days ago and the leadership is now deliberating on that invitation and will respond to it very soon. We are not under pressure because we must consider the entire peace process before making our final response,” Manpiny explained.

Manpiny reiterated the group’s longstanding commitment to achieving lasting peace through a genuine process.

“As has been the case always, the SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang has been for peace, and we will never shy away from any initiative that aims to bring genuine peace to our people,” Manpiny said.

The invitation, if accepted by the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction, would increase the number of opposition groups participating in the Nairobi talks to at least nine.

Civil society organizations are also involved in the discussions.

Currently, eight non-signatory opposition groups are already part of the process. These groups are divided between two alliances: the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and the South Sudan National Unity Alliance (SSUNA).

A faction of SSOMA led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka and Emmanuel Ajawin has also been invited to the Nairobi talks, but they have not yet responded.

Their reasons for not participating include security concerns and issues related to the Rome peace initiative.