By Matik Kueth
The Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP) called on Kenyan President William Ruto and President Salva Kiir to uphold their pledge to effectively wrap up the Tumaini peace negotiations.
The coalition, comprising 15 political parties excluded from the R-ARCSS, has blatantly blamed President Kiir and his counterpart, William Ruto for lacking political will.
In an exclusive interview with King Media on Monday, Deng Bol, Chairperson of the Common People Alliance (CPA) and Spokesperson for COOP, condemned the stagnation of the Tumaini initiative designed to foster hope and peace in the beleaguered South Sudan.
He urged the international community and regional stakeholders to intensify their efforts in reshaping the Tumaini Peace talks, lamenting that South Sudan’s government lacks political will and commitment to the initiative’s goals.
“To the international community and regional stakeholders, this is your moment to stand with the people of South Sudan. We need you to apply pressure on our leaders, hold them accountable for their commitments, and demand progress,” Bol said.
He added, “We are not just disappointed; we are outraged. The people of South Sudan have been met with empty promises for far too long. The delays we are witnessing today are nothing short of a betrayal of our people’s trust. The political posturing must stop; we need decisive action.”
The frustrations expressed by COOP echo a growing sentiment among the South Sudanese people, who are tired of the endless cycle of promises, delays, and broken hopes.
“If this process collapses, it won’t just be another missed opportunity. It could act as a spark in an already volatile situation. The consequences of continued failure are unthinkable,” Bol warned.
Bol challenged South Sudan’s political parties, women, youth, and civil society to support vigorous advocacy efforts.
“Write open letters, organize peaceful demonstrations. Make your voices heard. This initiative is not merely a diplomatic project; it is a lifeline for millions who have suffered long enough,” he urged.
He emphasized the need for President Kiir and William Ruto to implement the commitments they made during their meeting in Juba on November 6th, 2024.
“We remind His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, H.E William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya of the commitments they made when they made in Juba on the 6th of November 2024. The two leaders assured the world that they were serious about the deliberation of peace to the people of South Sudan,” he stated.
Bol further appealed for collective action to resurrect the Tumaini Initiative before it’s too late, pointing out that, “In a nation where trust has eroded and hope is dwindling, the spotlight is on leaders and the international community to unify efforts in pursuit of a lasting peace.”
“We will not sit back and watch as our future slips away. Enough is enough. Our people deserve action, they deserve peace, and they deserve leaders who fulfill their promises,” Bol stressed.
Last Week, after a nearly four-month hiatus, the Tumaini peace talks resumed in Nairobi after the main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by South Sudan First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, withdrew, claiming that the protocols of the Tumaini Initiative parties were incompatible with the renewed peace agreement.
On November 6th, 2024, the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and other opposition factions threw a spotlight on what they describe as a troubling regression by the government delegation in the Tumaini peace negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya.
The allegations hinged on a recent statement made by Martin Elia Lomuro, the Cabinet Affairs Minister and a prominent member of the government’s Tumaini peace team, which SSOMA claims may jeopardize the peace negotiations though it remains steadfast in its call for unity and constructive engagement as Tumaini negotiations continue.
The Coalition of the Opposition Parties demanded that the Tumaini negotiations be concluded quickly in spite of the ongoing squabbles between the government delegation and the SSOMA parties, underlining that it is time to discard pointless discussions and find peaceful solutions so that South Sudanese can live in peace.