The South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance, a coalition of opposition groups engaging with the government in the Kenyan-led peace talks initiative known as Tumaini, has changed its name to United People Alliance (UPA).
The coalition, comprising the Real-Sudan People's Liberation
Movement (R-SPLM), South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), South Sudan United
National Alliance (SSUNA), South Sudan People's Movement/Army (SSPM/A),
National People's Movement (NPM), Upper Nile People Liberation Front (UNPLF),
and National Salvation Front – Revolutionary Command Council (NAS-RCC),
announced on Thursday that they have decided to change their name to
consolidate their unity and work towards lasting peace in the country.
The parties renamed themselves on the 9th of January 2025. They
stated that the date was chosen to commemorate the signing of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA) on 9th January 2005, which led to South Sudan's
independence on 9th July 2011.
The decision came amid delays in the Nairobi talks, which
were scheduled to resume on January 6. The delays followed disagreements over
protocols and a break for the festive season and consultations. However, the
government delegation has not appeared at the venue for the resumption of
talks, without providing any reason.
“The UPA calls on all the people of South Sudan, other
Opposition Parties and Stakeholders to unite and intensify the struggle to
achieve peace and good governance using all means possible to end the immense
suffering of our people and the relentless political instability induced by the
current regime in Juba,” the opposition said in declaration.
“Our motherland is in danger of disintegration; it is
collapsing into chaos and disorder as a direct result of leadership failure.”
The opposition said their goal is to create a united,
peaceful, just, and prosperous new South Sudan for all its citizens,
irrespective of clan, tribe, region, religion, or gender.
“We, therefore, aspire to build a homeland in which all
South Sudanese shall live in peace and harmony and to which they all belong and
pledge undivided allegiance.”
The Tumaini Initiative, launched on May 9, 2024, is a
Kenyan-led peace process between the government of South Sudan and the
opposition parties that did not sign the 2018 peace agreement.
