South Sudan’s main opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has submitted its position paper to Kenyan mediators ahead of proposed inclusive peace talks expected to begin next week, party officials said on Friday.
The SPLM-IO, founded by First Vice President Riek Machar, is currently led in an acting capacity by Oyet Nathaniel, as Machar remains under detention in Juba and faces treason charges.
The group signed a 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir that ended a five-year civil war, but the agreement has come under increasing strain amid renewed fighting and the erosion of key ceasefire provisions in parts of the country.
The Kenyan-led talks are scheduled to begin on February 9, though mediators have yet to confirm whether they will proceed as planned or be postponed.
Several SPLM-IO officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Radio Tamazuj that the submission makes it clear that the party will not participate in any dialogue unless Machar is released unconditionally.
“There can be no dialogue without the unconditional release of the First Vice President and Chairman of the SPLM-IO, Dr Riek Machar,” one official said, adding that the party welcomed a recent communiqué by the African Union Peace and Security Council urging efforts to resolve South Sudan’s crisis.
Another official said the position paper also calls for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the full implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“The SPLM-IO reiterates its commitment to an inclusive political dialogue aimed at addressing the ongoing crisis, securing the release of political detainees, respecting the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and fully implementing the peace agreement,” the official said.
Stakeholders’ views
Civil society groups participating in the Kenyan-led Tumaini Initiative have also submitted their positions on the proposed talks.
Manasseh Mathiang, executive director of the Hagiga (Truth) Initiative and a stakeholder in the process, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that civil society organisations had jointly reviewed the mediation framework and submitted a consolidated response.
“We welcomed the resumption of the talks under the Kenya-led initiative and the inclusion of key principals to ensure an effective and inclusive dialogue,” Mathiang said.
He said stakeholders support a transparent, accountable, South Sudanese-led national consensus process, noting that the mediation proposes a dialogue-based approach in which all parties participate as equal stakeholders.
However, Mathiang said civil society groups need more time for internal consultations, particularly regarding the proposed four-week timeline and the prioritisation of elections.
He said the talks appear to build on the Tumaini Initiative, which stalled last year, though the mediation approach may evolve in response to the worsening security situation.
While the talks are being held under the auspices of the Kenyan government, Mathiang said they cannot proceed without the consent of South Sudan’s government. He added that mediators are still awaiting responses from some invited parties, casting doubt on whether the talks will begin on February 9 as planned.
Background
Kenyan mediators last week handed over a framework to guide discussions on a draft National Consensus Charter, aimed at breaking South Sudan’s prolonged political deadlock and paving the way for elections. The framework was presented on January 29 in Nairobi to President Kiir’s special envoy and shared with major opposition groups, church leaders and civil society organisations.
The Tumaini Initiative was launched in Nairobi in December 2023 at Kiir’s request to revive stalled peace efforts by broadening participation to include newer opposition groups.
However, South Sudan’s government suspended its participation in July last year, accusing the process of legitimising rebellion and undermining the existing peace framework. The talks were adjourned for a third time in February 2025 without agreement.
South Sudan has recently seen intensified fighting between government forces and SPLA-IO fighters loyal to Machar, particularly in Jonglei state. Regional and international observers have warned that renewed violence risks plunging the country back into full-scale war, threatening the fragile 2018 peace deal that ended the 2013–2018 civil conflict.