By Eddah Waithaka
In a show of unity, Kenyan civil society rallied behind the Tumaini Initiative for Peace in South Sudan at Ufungamano Hall in Nairobi. The group hailed the initiative as a peaceful political process to restore hope, peace and stability in South Sudan.
“We commend the leadership of Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan for initiating this peace process and the South Sudan Opposition leaders for agreeing to pursue peace through negotiations,” the group said in a press statement.
“We applaud Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, for exercising leadership in hosting and facilitating the Tumaini Initiative and call on him to deepen the support for South Sudan’s leaders to reach a peaceful political settlement in the interest of their people and the region,” said a member of the society.
In their call to President Ruto, the group urged regional and international solidarity in support of the Tumaini Initiative as a critical step towards resolving the ongoing conflicts in South Sudan.
Kenya played a pivotal role in 2005 by hosting the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which marked the culmination of South Sudan’s long struggle against Sudan. This historic agreement ultimately led to the creation of the Republic of South Sudan in 2011.
Kenyan civil society acknowledged the challenges to the Tumaini initiative, including the decision by some South Sudanese leaders to withdraw their delegations, while others shunned the process.
“We appeal to all the leaders of South Sudan in their various capacities in government and opposition, to sincerely respond to the needs of their people and make the compromises and sacrifices necessary to achieve sustainable peace,” their statement reads.
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The Kenyan civil society groups appealed to Sumbeiywo and the co-mediators from IGAD and the Community of Sant’Egidio in Italy to remain in charge of the process and to ensure its inclusiveness.
A minimum of 22 organizations have endorsed the statement of solidarity. Among them are Youth in Focus, Kenya; Ushauri Paralegal; the Kangemi Wetlands UHAKI Paralegal Network; the Future of Kenya Foundation; and the Kayole Community Justice Center.
The peace talks, facilitated by Kenya, commenced in Nairobi on May 9 but were suspended in July when representatives from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar, exited the negotiations.
Machar claimed that the protocols agreed upon in Nairobi could jeopardize the terms of the 2018 peace agreement. This agreement, formally known as the Revitalized Agreement, was reached between President Salva Kiir’s SPLM, the SPLM-IO, and various other political factions.
The discussions in Nairobi aimed to involve opposition groups that had not participated in the 2018 peace agreement. Among these opposition factions are the Real-Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, led by Pagan Amum, and the South Sudan United Front, headed by Paul Malong Awan, the former chief of staff of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).
