President William Ruto will chair peace talks between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the opposition parties in Rome, Italy.
Ruto agreed to host the remaining part of the ongoing dialogue between the two parties in Nairobi, Kenya.
“On December 25, 2023, I accepted the request of my brother President Kiir to host and conclude the remaining phase of the peace talks that have been going on between the Government of South Sudan and hold-out opposition parties in Rome, Italy, under the auspices of the Community of Sant’Egidio,” he said.
He lauded President Kiir on the steps they have taken to bring peace and stability in South Sudan.
“Upon receiving the President’s request, I reached out to the Community of Sant’Egidio and applauded them for hosting the talks and inviting them to work with us to bring these talks to a fruitful conclusion,” said Ruto.
Ruto Reaches Out to S. Sudan Opposition
Ruto has also reached out to all the hold-out opposition parties under the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance and expressed his desire to ensure an all-inclusive and equitable mediation.
“I am encouraged that almost all the parties have responded positively to our call. Kenya is currently making the necessary arrangements to welcome the parties to Nairobi for pre-mediation consultations.”
He further invited international organizations including the United Nations (UN), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU) to support the efforts made to ensure peace prevails in South Sudan.
“We invite all friends of South Sudan, including IGAD, the EAC, the UN, the AU, the Quad and all Partner countries to support this noble effort. This is the time to give the people of South Sudan an opportunity to enjoy lasting peace and prosperity,” a statement from State House, Nairobi read in part.
Also Read: Five Things to Know about South Sudan
South Sudan Violence
The instability in South Sudan dates back to December 2013, following a political struggle between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar that led to Machar’s removal as vice president.
Violence erupted between presidential guard soldiers from the two largest ethnic groups in South Sudan.
Soldiers from the Dinka ethnic group aligned with Kiir and those from the Nuer ethnic group supported Machar.
Amid chaos, Kiir announced that Machar had attempted a coup, and violence spread quickly to Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Unity states.
From the outbreak of conflict, armed groups targeted civilians along ethnic lines, committed rape and sexual violence, destroyed property, looted villages, and recruited children into their ranks.
Also Read: Pope to Meet War Victims on South Sudan Peace Pilgrimage
The two have signed several treaties including the 2018 peace treaty which has not been fully implemented.
In addition, the situation worsened in April 2023 when fighting erupted in Sudan, sending an exodus of refugees, including many South Sudanese, fleeing southward to South Sudan.
Violent clashes and hunger have afflicted overcrowded camps, and the government and aid organizations in South Sudan lack the resources to meet humanitarian needs.
Reports indicate that more than 7.7 million people, or two-thirds of the population, faced severe food insecurity in 2023.
