Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has urged His Excellency President William Ruto of Kenya to actively engage with South Sudanese leaders, President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, in the Nairobi-led peace talks known as the Tumaini process. Mr. Yakani highlighted concerns that spoilers are undermining the objectives and outcomes of the Tumaini process, necessitating strong intervention from regional leaders.
Speaking at the upcoming South Sudan presidency meeting scheduled for next week Wednesday, Mr. Yakani emphasized the critical need for President Ruto’s direct involvement, pointing out that current leadership dynamics have allowed spoilers to wield significant influence over the peace process. He lamented the lack of robust support for timely and genuine political transitions in South Sudan, warning that continued political and economic instability could plague the nation if proactive measures are not taken.
“The spirit of supporting timely and genuine political transitional processes in South Sudan by current leaders in their various political establishments is very low. This means the citizens will continue facing political and economic instability,” Mr. Yakani stated, underscoring the urgent necessity for concerted efforts to safeguard the Tumaini Peace process and ensure its successful implementation.
Furthermore, Mr. Yakani raised concerns about the perceived undermining of Tumaini by a small faction of undisciplined political leaders within the government, noting their disproportionate influence and the challenges posed by their actions. He called for swift and effective measures to counteract any attempts to derail the peace process and emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity and credibility of the Tumaini initiative for the benefit of the South Sudanese populace.
In light of these developments, CEPO’s advocacy for President Ruto’s active engagement in facilitating constructive dialogue and collaboration between key stakeholders involved in the Tumaini Peace process serves as a clarion call for regional cooperation and solidarity in advancing sustainable peace and stability within South Sudan.