South Sudan’s Kenyan-led Tumaini Initiative has handed over a framework to guide talks on a draft National Consensus Charter, mediators said Saturday, in a renewed push to break the country’s prolonged political deadlock and pave the way for elections.
The framework was presented on January 29 in Nairobi to President Salva Kiir’s special envoy and shared with key opposition groups, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), the United Peoples’ Alliance (UPA) and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA). It was also circulated to the South Sudan Council of Churches and civil society leaders.
According to a statement by the mediation team seen by Radio Tamazuj, the document is intended to guide deliberations on a charter that would outline a “clear pathway” to “timely, credible, free and fair elections,” as part of a “South Sudanese-led and South Sudanese-owned” process.
The initiative, led by retired Kenyan lieutenant general Lazaro Sumbeiywo, described the proposed dialogue as a “significant paradigm shift” towards an inclusive process in which all parties participate as “equal stakeholders.”
It said the talks would move away from “adversarial posturing and zero-sum negotiations” in favour of a “people-centred model” focused on peace, security and accountable governance, urging participants to refrain from promoting sectarian or ethnic agendas.
Immediate discussion topics are expected to include the cessation of hostilities, stabilisation, civilian protection and humanitarian access. Longer-term issues earmarked for a future elected government include permanent constitution-making, transitional justice and security sector reform.
While recognising the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) as the foundation for peace efforts, the initiative said the new process seeks to address the current “political stalemate” and ongoing security and livelihood challenges by drawing lessons from shortcomings in the agreement’s implementation.
However, a senior member of the SPLM-IO said the group had not yet responded to the invitation to participate in the talks scheduled to begin in Nairobi on February 9.
“Yes, I can confirm that Lieutenant General Lazaro K. Sumbeiywo, the chief facilitator, has submitted the proposed framework to the UPA, SSOMA and the SPLM-IO to participate in the dialogue initiative in Nairobi on February 9, 2026, but the SPLM-IO did not respond to the invitation,” Dut Majokdit told Radio Tamazuj, citing the need for consultations.
Majokdit said the opposition group would not take part in any dialogue unless First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar is released.
“There is no dialogue without the release of the First Vice President, Chairman of the SPLM/SPLA-IO, Dr. Riek Machar,” he said, calling for his immediate release to allow direct talks with President Salva Kiir to resolve the ongoing crisis.
He also dismissed the government dialogue committee formed on Friday night, saying it lacked inclusivity and would not produce meaningful results as long as the SPLM-IO was excluded and Machar remained under house arrest and on trial in Juba.
Regional bloc IGAD is expected to act as steward of the process within a regional framework, with support from international partners. Deliberations on the draft charter are expected to conclude within four weeks.
The talks are set to start on 9 February.
The Tumaini Initiative was launched in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi in December 2023 at the request of President Kiir and with Kenya’s support. It aimed to reinvigorate South Sudan’s stalled peace efforts by involving newly formed opposition movements, including the United People’s Alliance.
However, Juba claimed in July last year that the initiative had legitimised rebellion and undermined a functioning peace framework.
The Tumaini talks were adjourned for the third time on February 7, 2025, without any concrete resolutions. Initially hailed as a bold intervention by President Ruto to revive a faltering peace process following frustrations with the Italy-based Sant’Egidio talks, the Tumaini Initiative now appears to have collapsed under the strain of mutual suspicion and political infighting.
South Sudan is witnessing escalating fighting between government forces (SSPDF) and SPLA-IO fighters loyal to detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar in northern Jonglei state and other parts of the country.
International and regional peace monitors have warned of a return to full-scale war amid a weakening peace deal signed in 2018 to end the 2013–2018 civil war.