Government, opposition close to inking deal after months of talks in Nairobi

By Awan Achiek

The government said on Friday that is inching closer to signing peace agreement with the hold-out opposition groups in Nairobi.

Albino Mathem, head of the government delegation said they had agreed on five protocols including judicial reforms, transitional justice and accountability, permanent ceasefire, security arrangement and institutional reforms and humanitarian access.

“South Sudan is good for all of us, and therefore, nobody should be left behind. What we have agreed in Nairobi with the opposition is trust and confidence building measures,” Mathem told journalists in Juba.

Mathem who is also the special envoy to President Salva Kiir expressed hope and confidence in reaching a final deal soon.

Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister for Information, Communication and Postal Services minister and a member of the government negotiation team, said the peace deal reached with the hold-out opposition parties would help to speed up the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

“The agreement that we are negotiating now is on how best we can strengthen implementation mechanisms and the implementation mechanisms so that we implement the agreement,” Makuei said.

The government delegation has been engaged with opposition parties that refused to sign the 2018 revitalized peace agreement since May 3, 2024 in the Kenyan capital.

This came after President Salva Kiir asked his Kenyan counterpart President William Ruto to mediate peace talks in December 2023.

The opposition parties attending the Nairobi peace process include South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by Gen. Paul Malong Awan, Real SPLM under Pagan Amum, the former Secretary General for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement party and other parties.

The armed opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Thomas Cirilo Swaka is not taking part in the talks due to lack of security guarantees.