The Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) is set to present its response to the positions of the non-signatories to the revitalized peace agreement and stakeholders today (Monday) at the High-level Mediation for South Sudan in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to one of the parties who is representing the non-signatories and preferred anonymity, the government’s response will focus on how much of the agreement has been implemented.
“The government’s response will be per what has been delivered and what has not been delivered in the peace agreement. The spirit of the dialogue is calm and consultative through the mediation of the Government of Kenya,” he explained. “The thematic areas that the government is responding to are governance, security, justice, and economic issues.”
On Saturday, the talks began with presentations by the non-signatories on the political crisis and underlying factors that focused on governance, justice, economic, and security sectors.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) who is a civil society representative to the talks, told Radio Tamazuj that the Nairobi Peace Talks will be fruitful if the negotiation and the mediation are free from political confrontation.
He said he expects the participants to reach a consensus on constitutional governance, security arrangements, transitional justice, and economic reforms. He also urged the Kenyan mediation team to try to bring on board Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech of SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang Faction, Gen. Thoms Cirillo of the National Salvation Front (NAS), Emmanuel Ajawin of National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF) and Alex Yatta Lukadi of South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), among others.
“We are urging the mediation team to reach out to Gen. Thomas Cirillo, Gen. Simon Gatwech, and Emmanuel Ajawin to join the Nairobi Peace Talks personally or to delegate representatives. The voices of the citizens are urging them to offer an opportunity for peace and stability through the talks,” Yakani said.
He also appealed to the political leadership in Sudan to embrace the spirit of peace and reconciliation at the Nairobi Peace Talks by releasing all political and civil activists who are in detention like Former Juba Mayor Kalisto Ladu, Morris Mabior, and Ajak Peter among others, and lift the ban imposed on the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA).
“Peace and reconciliation begin by walking the talk and reaching a genuine deal in Nairobi will be a great step on the path to transitioning our country from violence to peace,” Yakani said.
He urged citizens to be hopeful about the results of the talks.
“These Nairobi Peace Talks should be the last space of discontent for the political leaders of South Sudan who should sort out their political differences and agree on the genuine pathway for transitioning the country from violence to peace,” he urged.
Yakani called upon the political leaders at the Nairobi Peace Talks to demonstrate strong political commitment and will to make the talks a success.