NAIROBI, Sept. 2, 2024 — The government delegation at the Tumaini talks in Nairobi will brief officials today on the progress of the negotiations. The talks, aimed at advancing peace in the region, have been ongoing despite recent challenges.
In Juba, a meeting is expected to gather all parties of the transitional government, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO). The SPLM-IO withdrew from the Kenyan-mediated talks in July, expressing concerns that the protocols discussed could undermine or conflict with the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Edmund Yakani, a civil society activist and stakeholder at the talks, emphasized the need for compromise to advance the Tumaini initiative. “Today, the leaders in Juba must compromise. Personal grievances should not cloud their judgment of the Tumaini initiative,” Yakani said. “They must take responsibility and endorse the protocols so we can resume the Tumaini talks in Nairobi. This also paves the way for the IO’s return to the negotiation table, despite reservations from some political leaders due to personal fears regarding the Tumaini process.”
The eight protocols under discussion address critical issues, including a security agreement, ceasefire, trust-building measures, communal violence, arms proliferation, humanitarian access, land dispute resolutions, and the role of the guarantor in the peace agreement.
