Kenya’s President William Ruto is visiting Juba, South Sudan, to engage in peace talks with President Salva Kiir, focusing on the Tumaini Initiative to establish lasting peace. The discussions will also prioritize crucial infrastructural projects to enhance regional trade. This visit comes after Ruto’s consultations with opposition parties, highlighting a collective effort towards resolving longstanding conflicts in South Sudan.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has embarked on an official visit to Juba, South Sudan, aimed at fostering peace initiatives to address the enduring conflicts that hinder the nation’s development. On his agenda is a meeting with President Salva Kiir to lay the groundwork for sustained peace under the auspices of the Tumaini Initiative. A spokesperson from State House, Hussein Mohammed, indicated that discussions would address crucial infrastructural projects intended to enhance trade links between South Sudan and Kenya, notably focusing on the Lapsset Corridor aimed at boosting regional connectivity. In recent months, the Tumaini Initiative has progressed through extensive consultations with key South Sudanese stakeholders, establishing a framework for enduring peace. This dialogue has gathered momentum following President Ruto’s previous engagement with South Sudan’s opposition groups, who expressed their willingness to endorse the Tumaini Consensus. Kenya has a pivotal role in mediating discussions between competing factions in South Sudan, a commitment reaffirmed when President Ruto facilitated a declaration to pursue peace with divergent political actors. The mediation efforts are spearheaded by former army commander Lazurus Sumbeiywo, known for his instrumental role in the successful negotiation of the 2005 Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which paved the way for South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Following an initial reluctance, numerous holdout groups previously opposed to the 2018 peace agreement have shifted toward support for the Kenyan-led mediation, indicating a positive trajectory in the quest for lasting harmony in the region.
The persistent conflicts in South Sudan have severely disrupted the nation’s reconstruction efforts since its independence in 2011. Various factions, including the government led by President Salva Kiir and opposing armed groups, have been embroiled in civil strife since 2013. Numerous mediation attempts, including those led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), have been made to restore peace, with varying degrees of success. The Tumaini Initiative, recently established, seeks to provide a more concerted approach to achieving lasting peace by involving regional stakeholders and focusing on socio-economic projects that would facilitate cooperation between South Sudan and neighboring countries, particularly Kenya.
In conclusion, President William Ruto’s visit to South Sudan underscores Kenya’s commitment to resolving the long-standing conflicts that plague the nation. Through the Tumaini Initiative, discussions aimed at fostering peace while addressing infrastructural development signal a positive step toward sustainable harmony in the region. The ongoing dialogue and engagement with both governmental and opposition entities exemplify a united effort to achieve significant progress in South Sudan, leveraging past successes in peace negotiations.
Original Source: www.theeastafrican.co.ke
