Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, has praised the spirit in which the peace process headed by Kenya is moving forward, pointing out that the restoration of peace and stability is necessary for economic growth and recovery.
South Sudan’s Minister of Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, said in a statement aired on state-owned television (SSBC) that President Kiir met and conferred with the opposition, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups involved in the Tumaini peace process in Nairobi, Kenya.
In Nairobi, His Excellency President Salva Kiir supported former prime minister Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga in her bid to become chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Furthermore, in his capacity as the head of the Eastern African community, which has nominated Honorable Raila Odinga for president, his excellency the president of the Republic of South Sudan also attended the endorsement. According to Makuei, “He attended as the president of one of the nations in the region whose leaders also attended.”
“Therefore, it was an opportunity for the president to meet and be briefed on the Tumaini initiative by our delegations,” he continued. Along with our delegation, he also had meetings with members of faith-based organizations, the opposition, and civil society organizations.
According to the minister, the South Sudanese leader expressed gratitude for the ongoing discussions and promised to assume responsibility for holding future discussions and reaching a decision with the signatories to the peace agreement in Juba.
The opposition alliance in South Sudan, led by Lual Deng Marach, characterized President Kiir’s intention to meet and negotiate with them as a “historically important gesture” that would give the process more momentum.
According to Marach, President Kiir has demonstrated a tremendous desire to advance peace above all else in order to create enduring peace and advance the nation toward stability and prosperity.
In order to ensure a better future for all South Sudanese, he underlined that the continuing negotiations must be guided by a common commitment to peace and national unity.
The President made the comments earlier today at a significant gathering in Nairobi that was attended by delegations from the government and opposition as well as representatives of civil society. The talks between the government delegation and the opposition organizations who were holding out were conducted by the mediation team, which was headed by seasoned mediator General Lazarus Sumbeiywo.
From the beginning of the process earlier this year, officials closely involved in the peace talks say that there have been significant and encouraging advancements throughout the three months that they have been held in the capital of Kenya.