South Sudan’s Ruto-led Peace Talks On The Verge Of Crumble Amidst Opposition Stance

South Sudan’s Ruto-led Peace Talks On The Verge Of Crumble Amidst Opposition Stance

Barely a week after President William Ruto took over as mediator of the South Sudan peace talks, voices of dissent have emerged, casting doubt on their success.

Lieutenant General Thomas Cirillo Swaka, a prominent opposition leader, told Radio Tamazuj, a South Sudanese outlet, on Tuesday that, while the opposition welcomed Ruto’s efforts to help the East African nation find lasting peace, the choice of Nairobi as the location for the talks was misguided.

He said that a team from Saint Egidio in Rome, where an initial agreement was struck, had not been consulted during the negotiations.

“Our reservation is not about doubting the Kenyan mediation itself, but rather the process surrounding it. The main issue is that the agenda for the talks was decided without consulting us,” said Thomas Cirillo.

“The Kenyan mediation aims to find new mechanisms for implementing the R-ARCSS, a deal signed between the government and SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar in 2018. However, we have consistently refused to be part of this agreement, which we view as unjust and inadequate in addressing the root causes of South Sudan’s problems,” he continued.

“During the speeches in Nairobi on the 9th, the focus was on implementing the R-ARCSS, despite our exclusion from the agreement. If the aim is to find new mechanisms for implementation, all signatories should be involved, which includes us. This lack of inclusion is one of our concerns with the Kenyan mediation.”

The General also regretted that opposition views of South Sudanese in Kenya were muffled by the heavy security that followed President Salva Kiir to the start of the negotiations.

He contended that some individuals were fearful of retaliation and requested that the talks be moved to Rome for efficient resolution.

“In Juba, some of our opposition members have been killed or detained by President Kiir’s security agents. The heavy presence of these security forces in Kenya has created a climate of fear among South Sudanese citizens, making Nairobi unsuitable for negotiations,” Cirillo added.

“We want our people to feel free to express their aspirations, as they did during the Naivasha peace talks in 2005. Kenya is not conducive to this due to the fear our citizens live in, which is why we advocate for keeping peace talks in Rome, where conditions are more conducive.”

Separate media in Juba, however, expressed concerns about the negotiations’ chances of success, particularly given that most activists are covertly caught in Kenya and transported to Juba.

“The Kenyan initiative may increase the number of “inactive” opposition groups in Juba, but it is unlikely to secure the peace that South Sudan desperately needs,” a South Sudanese human rights expert lamented.

The discussions formally began on May 9 in Nairobi, with Ruto aiming to put an end to South Sudan’s fighting and political instability.

During the negotiation, eight kinds of parties and groups were brought together to ensure that the process was inclusive and homegrown.

“This initiative exemplifies the Pan-African policy of African solutions to African challenges, contributing to the ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative’ and fostering an environment for transformational development in South Sudan, our region, and the entire African continent,” the Kenyan President stated.

Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Nangolo Mbumba (Namibia), and Faustin-Archange Touadera (Central African Republic), as well as African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, were among those in attendance.

Cirillo, on the other hand, thinks that St. Egidio members should have been included.

“During our pre-negotiation meeting in Rome, we raised two points with the Kenyan delegation sent by President William Ruto,” stated Cirillo.

“Firstly, we proposed expanding the negotiation team to include members of St. Egidio, given their significant role in previous peace efforts,” Cirillo lamented.

“Secondly, we advocated for Rome to remain the venue for peace talks due to its neutrality and security. Despite Kenya’s positive contributions to South Sudan, concerns remain about Kenyan security, which has arrested and handed over opposition members to the South Sudanese government.”

South Sudan’s Ruto-led Peace Talks On The Verge Of Crumble Amidst Opposition Stance