![UDRM former secretary-general Joseph Madak Both. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-22-at-8.10.02-PM.jpeg?resize=850%2C470&ssl=1)
Joseph Madak Both, who served as the UDRM’s secretary-general and chief mediator at the Nairobi talks known as the Tumaini Initiative, announced his defection in a statement on Sunday. This comes after his group announced withdrawal from the Kenya-led initiative.
Both said his decision was motivated by a desire for “sustained peace, security, justice” in South Sudan. He expressed support for the Tumaini Initiative, stating that constructive engagement had identified solutions for key issues.
He also criticized his former group’s leadership, accusing UDRM chairman Deng Nyang Vanang of a “lack of trust and confidence with other opposition leaders.” Both claimed the UDRM’s termination from the talks was indicative of leadership failure.
“The current Tumaini Initiative has exhausted over the past four weeks, through constructive engagement amongst the parties, civil society and stakeholders, all the issues, solutions, strategies and measures to address the critical issues of politics, governance, security, social cohesion and Justice including the permanent Constitution processes have been exhaustively identified and agreed,” Both said in his statement dated June 20th.
He further accused Vanang of generating distrust and failing to create a unified platform for the UDRM.
The UDRM responded by calling Both “a lone delegate assigned by the UDRM Politburo to represent the movement at Tumaini Initiative talks in Nairobi… for an entire two months of May and June.” The UDRM accused Both of abandoning his position “for a self-seeking position favorable to the Juba regime.”
General Buay Rolnyang’s SSPM is one of several opposition groups not party to the 2018 peace deal. These groups are engaged in separate talks in Nairobi known as the Tumaini Initiative led by the Kenyan government.
