South Sudan, hold out groups agree on eight protocols

July 15, 2024 (JUBA)- South Sudan government and the holdout groups not signatory to the September 2018 peace agreement on Monday agreed on eight protocols, raising prospect of a possible agreement in the coming days.

Members of civil society organizations, faith-based groups, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders inked the agreement before the team of mediators.  The issues for which 8 protocols have been signed are some of the key issues that have been part of the negotiations in the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 25-page document, also obtained by Sudan Tribune, provides details of an inclusive governance structure and responsibility sharing among the government, opposition groups, and other stakeholders, covering areas such as executive roles, legislature, security, constitutional processes, and elections management.

Titled “Tumaini Consensus for Sustainable Peace in South Sudan”, the document contains some guiding principles on humanitarian access, and support, trust, and confidence-building measures, permanent ceasefire, security arrangements and reforms, communal conflicts, armed civilians, and land disputes, and guarantors who will take responsibility in the implementation of the consensus.

According to the document, the parties at the talks further agreed to revitalize, structure, and reconstitute the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) to expand membership and provide an all-inclusive commission.

They also agreed on inclusivity in the constitution-making structures and processes

The chief mediator of the high-level talks, Retired Gen. Lazarus Sumbeiywo, announced that the parties to the peace process had made significant progress.

“There is consensus on the importance of inclusive peace and people-centered mechanisms. The parties have developed a framework and a roadmap that will lead to the achievement of sustainable peace, including development and shared prosperity for the people of South Sudan”, he said, without elaborating.

Similarly, the head of the government delegation to the peace process, Ambassador Albino Mathom, confirmed the two sides have reached a deal on the eight thematic issues critical to reaching a consensus on the other remaining issues which the parties are yet to discuss and resolve.

Mathom reiterated the commitment of government to bringing lasting peace.

The parties and stakeholders agreed to form a Regional High-Level Panel of Heads of State and Government, which will consist of heads of state and government from the region. The panel’s responsibilities and roles will be to monitor and oversee the agreement in liaison with the National Leadership Council.

In December 2023, President Salva Kiir requested his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto to take over the mediation from the community of Sant’Egidio in Rome amid concerns that talks were taking longer than expected with no conclusion.

(ST)