The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) on Tuesday said that the actions of the Government of South Sudan have undermined the Tumaini Peace Initiative, once again denying the nation the chance to achieve lasting peace.
A press statement from the PCCA seen by Radio Tamazuj said that in its public briefing on 8 July 2024, they cautioned against potential threats to the peace process, specifically citing the enactment of the National Security Act, the extension of the R-ARCSS, and the letter from the First Vice President [Dr. Riek Machar] to the Kenyan mediators.
“Tragically, though not unexpectedly, these concerns have now materialized. The responsibility for this failure rests squarely with President Salva Kiir, whose absence of decisive leadership, political will, and steadfast commitment to peace ultimately undermined the process,” the statement said. “The withdrawal of SPLM/A-IO members from the RTGoNU delegation on 15th July 2024 led to a major division within the team. This division forced the delegation to return to Juba for consultations, which resulted in the RTGoNU leadership issuing its first set of observations and signaling the government’s backtracking on the agreed protocols.”
PCCA also faulted the government for prolonged absence from the peace process after they departed on 3 September for Juba to finalize consultations on the Inclusive Governance and Responsibility Sharing Protocol, with an anticipated return within a few days, as the signing of the final agreement was set for 16 September 2024.
“Regrettably, the delegation remained absent for three months, and upon their return, they appeared singularly focused on dismantling the Tumaini initiative. After obtaining an unconstitutional two-year extension of his term in office, President Kiir became disinterested in the Tumaini Initiative, choosing instead to empower hardliners within his administration who worked to derail and undermine the peace process,” the statement reads in part. “On the evening of President Ruto’s visit to Juba, President Kiir dismissed the government delegation to the Tumaini Peace Initiative, replacing them with individuals opposed to the peace process.”
“The reconstituted delegation arrived at the talks with a drastically altered negotiating stance, effectively discarding previously negotiated and agreed-upon terms and this shift led to a deadlock, culminating in the government delegation’s abrupt walkout from the talks,” the statement added.
According to PCCA, President Kiir has earned a reputation, both domestically and internationally, for his unreliability and consistent failure to honor commitments.
“The Tumaini Initiative is now destined to join a growing list of agreements and resolutions that have been disregarded under his leadership, including the South Sudan All-Parties Conference Communique of 2010, the Cobra Agreement (Pibor Peace Agreement) of 2014, the SPLM Reunification Agreement of 2015, the ARCSS of 2015, the R-ARCSS of 2018, SPLM Lobonok Conference Resolutions 2018, the Rome Initiative of 2019, the South Sudan National Dialogue Resolutions of 2020, the Kitwang Agreement of 2022, among others and now, the Tumaini Peace Initiative of 2024, which he initiated,” PCCA said.
According to the Coalition, this consistent pattern of broken promises has made it abundantly clear that President Kiir cannot be trusted to honor his word.
“His consistent betrayal of agreements has fueled widespread distrust, particularly during the recent negotiations in Nairobi. His actions not only undermine the peace process but also deepen the chasm of mistrust, making meaningful dialogue and progress increasingly elusive,” the statement said. “This partly explains why other non-signatory opposition groups decided not to participate in the Tumaini Peace Initiative. It is time to confront the reality that a leader who disregards his commitments is a liability to the future of South Sudan.”
PCCA said that the walkout of the government delegation from the Tumaini Initiative starkly highlights the reality of a government in Juba that has transformed into an end in itself, rather than a means to serve the interests and welfare of its people.
“Rather than striving for peace and public welfare, this government exists to perpetuate the rule of one man and the clique that supports him. Breaking its grip on power demands a new approach—one rooted in unity, resilience, and a firm dedication to a collective future. We have unwavering faith in the strength and resolve of the South Sudanese people to rise to the challenge and confront the self-serving clique that continues to hold our nation hostage,” the statement reads. “We have long maintained that President Kiir’s priorities are not peace or the well-being of our citizens, but the preservation of his own power at any cost. His actions threaten the very survival of our nation, and we cannot stand idly by as he leads South Sudan toward another round of chaos, state collapse, and eminent fragmentation. We must act decisively to safeguard our future.”
As a way forward, the PCCA urged the government delegation to confirm and return to the Tumaini Peace Initiative per the date set by the mediation to finalize the negotiations starting from where it stopped in early September 2024.
“PCCA calls upon the people of South Sudan to unite and resist the growing autocratic rule, economic deprivation, and constant fear of insecurity in the country and to reclaim their sovereignty and freedom through popular public disobedience. As the authentic voice of the people, civil society must summon the courage to spearhead collective action against a government that has been manipulated to serve the ambitions of one man and his clique,” the Coalition proposed. “Given its subversion of the constitution, sabotage of peace processes, and predatory economic practices that have benefitted a small elite while plunging millions into dire poverty and increased dependency on shrinking humanitarian aid, it is time for the East African Community, IGAD, the African Union, the Troika, and the United Nations to reconsider their recognition of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.”
The PPCA said the path forward is not without its challenges, but the strength, resilience, and unity of the South Sudanese people are greater than the ruling clique that presides over the crises in the country and denies peace to the South Sudanese masses.
“Together, we can build a nation founded on peace, justice, and prosperity. South Sudan deserves better, and its people deserve nothing less than a future defined by hope, dignity, and opportunity,” the statement concluded.