An advocacy group, the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), has urged both the government and opposition groups at the Tumaini Initiative to practice tolerance when addressing national issues.
Early this month, the South Sudan mediation process, aimed at bringing peace between the government and the hold-out groups, commenced in Nairobi, Kenya.
The talks are between the government and rebel opposition groups, which declined to sign the 2018 revitalized peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war.
The negotiations signify the ongoing efforts to promote peace and restore harmony among all the parties in the country.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director of CPA, who is currently in Nairobi for the Peace Talks, said some gestures would hinder the peace process.
“CPA has observed that the body language and tone used by both groups have been hindrances to reaching a deal sooner rather than later,” Manyang said in a statement obtained by The Radio Community.
“This observation was made after the Chief Mediator assigned different groups, including RTGoNU, the Opposition, and Civil Society, to work on political, governance, and security reforms at the talks.”
Manyang urged the parties in peace talks to use friendly language.
“CPA is calling on both parties to use friendly and brotherly language to reach a deal. Emotional approaches are not necessary when addressing national issues. What is needed is a calm demeanor and an honest tone that foster a spirit of brotherhood,” he emphasized.
He further stressed that building rapport among the government and opposition groups is the only way to reach an agreement.
The activist also explained, “Maintaining eye contact, adopting an open stance, and making welcoming gestures are examples of positive body language that promote trust and encourage open communication, ultimately creating a more productive negotiation environment.”
The National Salvation Front (NAS) under Gen. Thomas Cirillo, the Real SPLM under former SPLM Party Secretary-General Pagan Amum, the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) under former army chief Gen. Paul Malong, the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF) under Amb. Emmanuel Ajawin, and the South Sudan National Movement for Change/Army (SSNMC/A) are among the opposition groups attending the peace talks in Nairobi.