The current developments in the peace talks in South Sudan are raising major concerns about the recognition and implementation of the peace agreement reached in 2018. South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar recently expressed concern about the recent negotiations, stating that the new draft agreement was intended to replace the original peace agreement.
In a protest letter to the talks’ facilitator, Riek Machar stated that the draft proposed the creation of alternative institutions to replace or operate in parallel with those established under the previous agreement. He stressed that the current talks should instead complement the existing peace agreement, not replace it.
It is worth recalling that Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir signed an agreement in 2018 ending a five-year civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives. Following the historic agreement, Riek Machar was appointed vice president, symbolizing hope for reconciliation and stability in South Sudan. However, Riek Machar’s group is not involved in the current talks, which involve groups excluded from the 2018 agreement.
Despite the signing of the peace agreement, violence still persists in South Sudan, including attacks by rebel groups and inter-ethnic conflict. The body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the 2018 agreement had already expressed concerns in May about the delay in completing election-related tasks, with the polls scheduled for December.
Opposition groups excluded from the 2018 agreement have been in talks in Kenya since May 9 to include these factions in the electoral process scheduled for December. The ongoing discussions have led to a draft agreement recommending an extension of the transition period to allow more time for election preparations.
President Salva Kiir recently received a progress report on the negotiations, indicating that significant progress has been made and that a final agreement is expected to be reached soon. These talks are critical to establishing peace and stability in South Sudan, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the conflict-torn country.