President Salva Kiir, in his New Year's address to the nation, declared 2025 as the "Year of Compromise," calling for renewed efforts to foster peace and unity in South Sudan.
Reflecting on the country's journey, he stressed the importance of drawing lessons from past challenges and working together to build a harmonious future.
"As we rejoice on the wins we have made in 2024, we do
not know what the future hold for us. However, I'm optimistic that despite the
odds, the future will be bright for our nations, we must have courage and
believe in ourselves. Make bold and targeted decisions to achieve the future we
envisioned," Kiir stated.
Kiir expressed hope that 2025 would be a year where the
"land of great abundance" unites all South Sudanese in peace and
harmony.
“It is my prayer and hope that 2025 will be a year where the
land of great abundance will have to hold us united in peace and harmony. A
year where we will make compromises, chose leadership over politics, where our
children will sing songs of freedom with joy,” Kiir expressed.
"To all our brothers and sisters who suffered losses in
2024, let the year 2025 be a year of recovery, restitution, and restoration
as a gesture of forgiveness."
In a gesture of reconciliation, Kiir announced the release
of 22 inmates charged with petty crimes, effective January 1, 2025.
"We are happy that the year has gone, and we are there
to receive the new year, let us pray for peace all of us," he concluded.
South Sudan has faced significant challenges in implementing
the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. Key provisions, including the completion
of security arrangements, the repatriation of refugees, and the drafting of a
permanent constitution, remain unmet.
These delays have partly contributed to the postponement of
elections, originally scheduled for December 2024, now pushed to December 2026.
The postponement of elections has drawn criticism from
international peace guarantors. They view the delay as a setback in
implementing the 2018 peace agreement, emphasizing that elections are crucial
for lasting peace.
President Kiir acknowledged the immense challenges ahead and
commended the resilience of South Sudanese citizens. He called for collective
efforts to navigate these challenges and to ensure that each day contributes to
making South Sudan better than it was yesterday.
The Tumaini Initiative, mediated by the Kenyan government,
was designed to engage opposition groups that had not signed the 2018 Peace
Agreement and bring them into the implementation process.
However, the initiative has encountered a deadlock. Despite
initial progress, the talks faced several challenges, particularly regarding
their alignment with the existing peace agreement.
