The South Sudan opposition coalition (SSOMA) has reportedly rejected any Kenya-led peace negotiations, setting conditions before the commencement of talks.
In a letter dated Friday, February 13, the South Sudan opposition movement alliance (SSOMA) chairperson, Thomas Cirillo, said the opposition had serious concerns that needed to be addressed before the process commenced.
He said the Tumaini Initiative, a framework drafted for peace negotiations, had serious concerns about both the process and the substance of the framework.
“First, the framework was developed and presented without prior structured consultations with sudanese stakeholders. This approach contradicts the core principle emphasised by the tumaini initiative itself. That peace making process must be owned by south sudanese,” he stated.
“The framework appears to predetermine the agenda, process and outcome. It limits genuine dialogue and constrains South Sudanese parties to negotiate within externally pre-set parameters rather than shaping the process collectively and freely,” he added.
The Tumaini Peace Initiative is a high-level mediation process launched in Nairobi on May 9, 2024, with the primary goal of bringing lasting peace to South Sudan following years of unrest since its independence in 2011.
President William Ruto has been at the forefront of efforts to resolve the crisis in South Sudan, especially ahead of the country’s scheduled election in December 2026.
The resumed talks aim to produce a national consensus charter for peace and democracy, focusing on solution-oriented dialogue rather than fixed political positions.
However, recent scheduled peace talks on February 9 were postponed following the African Union summit in Ethiopia from February 15.
The opposition also called for the immediate release of the country’s first vice president, Riek Machar, who they say has been in detention. The leaders warned that failure to release Machar could mean the peace process would fail.
“All political detainees under the outgoing south sudan regime’s security apparatus should unconditionally released. The top political detainee is south sudan’s first vice president Riek Machar,” Cirillo said.
Machar was detained under house arrest in March 2025 following a raid on his residence by officers. He was charged with treason and crimes against humanity related to an earlier attack on a military base.
The demand by SSOMA highlights growing tensions surrounding the detention of Riek Machar, which has complicated regional mediation efforts and raised concerns about the viability of new peace talks.
