ROME, August 15, 2024 — A faction of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) announced a new leadership structure on Wednesday after meetings held in Rome, Italy, from August 12 to 14. This faction, which did not join the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi, Kenya, is led by prominent opposition figures who are working towards unified negotiations with the South Sudanese government.
The faction includes the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka, the South Sudan Movement for Change (SSMC) led by Dr. Alex Yata, and the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF) led by Emmanuel Ajawin. According to a declaration document seen by Radio Tamazuj, Gen. Swaka was appointed as the chairperson of this SSOMA faction. Dr. Yata Lukadi will serve as deputy chairperson, and Ajawin was named secretary general of the alliance.
The declaration outlined plans for a general alliance meeting to formalize the SSOMA Secretariat’s new structure and appoint officials to various positions. The group emphasized its commitment to a comprehensive peace road map as a guideline for political negotiations in South Sudan. The faction also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict through an inclusive roundtable conference.
The faction declined participation in the Kenya High-level Mediation for South Sudan, launched in Nairobi on May 9, citing safety concerns and a preference for continued talks in Rome, with the Community of Sant’Egidio as co-mediators.
The Tumaini Initiative, which the faction opted out of, includes the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) of former Army Chief Paul Malong and the Real-SPLM led by former SPLM Party Secretary-General Pagan Amum. Peace negotiations between the transitional unity government and holdout groups under the SSOMA umbrella have been ongoing since 2020.
