The government has changed its tone on the Tumaini Peace Initiative, announcing its willingness to resume talks with opposition groups after previously declaring the initiative dead.
Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu told the 80th United
Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday that this reflects the
government’s commitment to peace and stability.
“South Sudan remains open to meaningful dialogue with hold-
out groups. In this regard the government is considering resumption of Tumaini
Peace Initiative and welcomes facilitation from regional and other partners,”
Lagu stated.
“We urge regional and international communities to urge the
hold- out groups to renounce armed violence and engage in political dialogue.”
The Tumaini Initiative, launched in may 2024 in Nairobi,
Kenya, was designed to bring non-signatory opposition groups into the 2018
Revitalized Peace Agreement with the goal to address the root causes of conflict
in South Sudan.
The Tumaini Peace Initiative ended in deadlock as the
government and opposition disagreed over its relation to the 2018 peace
agreement. The government sought to annex the initiative’s consensus to the
R-ARCSS, while the opposition refused.
In July 2025, the head of the government delegation to the
Kenya-led peace process declared the Tumaini Initiative dead, stating that the
opposition groups involved in the talks had no case.
The decision drew criticism from civil society groups and
opposition leaders, who warned that abandoning the process could stall progress
toward national reconciliation
With elections scheduled for December 2026, the government
faces increasing pressure to consolidate peace, strengthen institutions, and
prevent a relapse into armed conflict.
