President Kiir visits South Africa for talks on peace in South Sudan
July 24, 2024 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir is on an official visit to South Africa in preparation for discussions on the implementation of the peace agreement before talks with Riek Machar, his first deputy and SPLM-in-Opposition leader.
Kiir departed from Juba on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, accompanied by farewells from Machar and several senior government officials. Presidential press secretary Lily Adhieu Martin informed the media at the airport that Kiir and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will discuss the progress of the Nairobi peace talks during this visit.
“The visit aims for President Kiir to brief President Ramaphosa on the progress of the ongoing Tumaini Initiative, which seeks a political settlement between the government of South Sudan and holdout groups,” Martin stated.
South Africa chairs the African Union High-Level Ad-hoc Committee of Heads of State and Government, known as the C5, which includes representatives from each of the five regions of the continent.
Established in 2018, the committee was created to enhance and scale up the mediation efforts of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in South Sudan. According to the communiqué of the 474th session of the PSC, the C5’s role is to strengthen Africa’s support for IGAD and assist South Sudanese parties and stakeholders in achieving durable peace.
Officials in Juba expect Kiir to brief President Ramaphosa on the progress of the peace agreement’s implementation and seek input on major issues hindering its execution.
A lack of trust between leaders of the major parties and problems in security arrangements led to the collapse of the initial August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) in July 2016. Addressing the trust deficit in political leadership remains a significant challenge for the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
South Sudan President Salva Kiir is scheduled to meet with SPLM-IO leader and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, along with other vice presidents, to address concerns that have arisen in the Tumaini Initiative following the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal from the talks.
On Monday, the government’s delegation to the Tumaini Initiative met with Machar to update him on the progress of the ongoing negotiations and to persuade him to return to the table.
Last week, the SPLM-IO Political Bureau met in Juba and unanimously decided to withdraw from the Kenyan-mediated talks. The group expressed dissatisfaction with the protocols established during the Tumaini Initiative negotiations, particularly criticizing the proposed creation of the National Leadership Council (NLC).
The SPLM-IO argues that the NLC would concentrate unchecked power, potentially surpassing constitutional bodies such as the Presidency, Council of Ministers, National Legislature, and National Security Council.
Information Minister Michael Makuei stated that the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal has weakened the government’s position in the negotiations. He emphasized that the government delegation to the Nairobi talks is an inclusive team that includes members of the SPLM-IO.
Amidst the challenges faced by the Tumaini talks, Kiir is seeking advice and consultation from his South African counterpart before meeting with Machar later this week. According to Kiir’s press team, the meeting between the two leaders will focus on advancing peace and stability in South Sudan and strengthening ties between the two nations.
(ST)