CEPO Advocates for Cautious Engagement in Tumaini Initiative Amidst South Sudan’s Transitional Challenges

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has expressed cautious optimism regarding the South Sudanese government’s recent initiative for a lobbying exercise centered around the Tumaini Initiative in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region. While CEPO welcomes the government’s efforts to promote the Tumaini Peace Talks in Kenya, the organization warns against any actions that could undermine or sabotage the ongoing peace process.

Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, emphasized the critical need for consensus on linking the outcomes of the Tumaini Initiative with the pending tasks of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He noted that achieving such a connection presents a vital political opportunity for establishing an inclusive government aimed at transitioning the country from ongoing violence to lasting peace.

“The current Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) is grappling with a significant deficit of trust and confidence among the signatories of the peace agreements and influential actors who have previously manipulated and misled presidential leadership,” said Yakani. He pointed to a recent article in the City Review Newspaper, which claimed that the government is set to begin the second phase of forces unification, a promise that has yet to materialize.

Yakani highlighted the necessity for the presidency to show genuine determination in implementing the remaining transitional tasks and urged a collective effort to overcome the manipulations of influential spoilers within the government. He cautioned that if the regional lobby efforts are misconceived as a means to replace or undermine R-ARCSS, it would exacerbate the suffering of South Sudan’s citizens.

The political legitimacy of the Tumaini Initiative, according to CEPO, is derived from its connections to the parties that signed the R-ARCSS, which stipulates important provisions for genuine political dialogue. Mr. Yakani reiterated the importance of treating the Tumaini Initiative and R-ARCSS as complementary rather than competing frameworks for moving forward.

In a significant step towards achieving political accountability, CEPO announced that starting next month, it will undertake a National Transitional Dialogue initiative. This platform aims to hold the political establishment accountable for fulfilling the commitments made under both the R-ARCSS and the forthcoming Tumaini Peace talks.

As South Sudan continues to navigate its complex political landscape, the call for transparency and collaboration amongst political factions remains paramount in the pursuit of sustainable peace and development.