Leak reveals government stance on Nairobi talks

According to a leaked document obtained by Radio Tamazuei, parties to the 2018 peace deal agreed that the Toumani Initiative should be aligned with and complement the accord, not replace it.

The 11-page briefing, submitted to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, highlights discussions between the parties and a government delegation attending the Tumani Initiative in Nairobi, Kenya.

This suggests that the parties to the revitalized peace agreement hope that the Toumani Initiative will strengthen existing institutions and No new structure is created Maintain the “legitimacy of the Transitional Government of National Unity.”

With regard to the functions and responsibilities assigned by the Toumani Consensus, the parties to the 2018 peace agreement unanimously agreed that organizations and mechanisms that conflict with the Revitalized Agreement must be eliminated or aligned with the R-ARCSS (Revitalized Agreement). These organizations and mechanisms include but are not limited to the High-Level Panel (external guarantor), the National Leadership Council, the National Implementation Oversight Committee (NIOC) and the Security Sector Reform and Oversight Committee (SSROC).

According to the leaked document, the peace partners agreed to integrate the Toumani Initiative into the existing security sector mechanisms outlined in the revitalized peace agreement, indicating that Toumani Initiative Proposal Weaknesses in existing structures should be addressed rather than creating new ones.

The document highlights concerns about the lack of leadership engagement ahead of the signing of the eight Tumani Initiative protocols in Nairobi. It stresses the need to review the Tumani consensus to ensure it is consistent with the 2018 peace agreement.

While the brief stressed the urgency of reaching agreements with holdout groups, the peace parties said they needed to review all Toumani agreements to align them with the R-ARCSS to ensure a “unified approach in the implementation of the R-ARCSS.”

Requests from all parties An extended meeting of the Bureau Review the report of the High-Level Committee on the Status of the Road Map and make a “political decision” on the way forward.

Meeting Minutes Summary

In a summary of the Toumani Initiative discussion, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomulo stressed that the Toumani Initiative should be aligned with the R-ARCSS and the roadmap. He said that the slow implementation of the 2018 peace agreement due to funding constraints should not be used to “undermine its gains.”

Peter Ram Bosi, secretary general of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, acknowledged that the Nairobi talks faced challenges “because The reserved group does not recognize R-ARCSSHe said the Toumani Initiative should complement the 2018 peace agreement and any adjustments should strengthen the existing agreement.

Ram said the composition of the National Leadership Council was unclear and the proposed high-level panel “undermines South Sudan’s sovereignty and therefore the council and the high-level panel should be abolished”.

Puot Kang Chuol, a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition, said the Tumani Initiative should focus on implementing existing provisions of the Revitalized Peace Agreement rather than creating new ones. He added that the Tumani Agreement undermined South Sudan’s governance structure and stressed that the Tumani Initiative should be an annex to the R-ARCSS.

Meanwhile, Vice President Taban Deng Gai stressed the need to reach an agreement with the opposition as soon as possible. He stressed that the Toumani Initiative should not undermine the R-ARCSS and called for the proposed security sector reforms to be integrated into existing structures to ensure stability.

Vice President Hussein Abdulbaghi ​​Akol expressed concern about the lack of leadership involvement in the Tumani Accord and the unchecked power of the National Leadership Council. He stressed the need for the Tumani Initiative to support the R-ARCSS, a view echoed by Presidential Advisor Tut Gatuak, Agriculture Minister Josephine Ragu and other senior officials.

Gabriel Chanson Chan, a key member of the government delegation to the Nairobi peace talks, stressed that the Tumani Initiative aims to support the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement by addressing gaps and challenges and providing resources.

Michael Makui Luais, rapporteur of the government delegation to the Nairobi peace talks, assured that the National Leadership Council would remain transparent and accountable. He stressed that South Sudanese are not ready for another extension of the transition period and that the Tumani Initiative is the only option that can provide an acceptable extension.

Finally, the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, called for a unified approach to strengthen the framework, address weaknesses and ensure lasting peace and stability in South Sudan.

The brief submitted to President Kiir was signed by Dr. Martin Elia Lomulo (ITGoNU), Peter Ram Both (ITGoNU), Puot Konchur (SPLM-IO), Josephine Lagu Yanga (SSOA), Albino Akol Attak (OPP) and Isaiah Hakim Garang (FDs).

Nairobi peace talks

Last month, South Sudan’s transitional government, the Holdouts and other stakeholders in the Tumaini (Hope) Initiative signed eight protocols.

Kenya has received high-level South Sudan Conference Clashes have been taking place since May 9 between government representatives and opposition groups that did not participate in the 2018 agreement that ended the five-year civil war.

The talks, known as Tumaini (Swahili for “hope”), recently produced a draft agreement proposing an extension of the country’s transition period and a postponement of upcoming elections to complete the country’s constitutional and electoral processes, as well as to delineate constituency boundaries and form a unified security force.

The draft peace agreement establishes a National Leadership Council to provide leadership and guidance to the Joint Defence Council, the National Constitutional Review Commission, the National Electoral Commission, the Political Parties Commission and other institutions with responsibilities related to the implementation of the Toumani Framework.

In mid-July, the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar, Withdrawal from Kenya-led peace talks.

Machar, a key figure in the 2018 peace deal, said the new moves undermined the existing agreement and the country’s sovereignty.