Representatives from the South Sudanese government and various armed factions that refused to sign the 2018 peace deal are set to engage in fresh peace talks on Thursday in Nairobi. These discussions, aimed at expanding participation in the peace process, will include key factions such as the National Salvation Front (NAS) under Pagan Amum, the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by former army chief Paul Malong, and the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) headed by Stephen Buay.
Diplomatic sources indicate that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will play a role in facilitating these negotiations. The discussions are expected to align with the 2018 agreement’s framework rather than creating a new accord, as sources highlighted concerns over the slow pace of implementation and funding issues that risk undermining the peace process.
This renewed effort comes following a recent visit by Kenyan President William Ruto to Juba, during which he announced that all parties had agreed to continue negotiations in Nairobi. The 2018 peace agreement, which President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar endorsed, marked an end to prolonged conflict in South Sudan. However, armed holdout groups that abstained from the original agreement have since continued hostilities.
