President William Ruto of Kenya has urged a resolute
dedication to the pursuit of peace in South Sudan.
Ruto delivered the remarks at the launch of the High
Level Mediation for South Sudan in Nairobi on Thursday.
Dubbed Tumaini Initiative, the peace process brings
together the Holdout groups and the government of South Sudan to forge a way
forward. "Tumaini" translates to "hope" in Swahili.
The Holdout groups include the Real-Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM) headed up by former SPLM Secretary-General Pagan
Amum, and the South Sudan United Front of Gen Paul Malong, former army chief of
staff.
"This initiative exemplifies the pan-African policy
of African solutions to African challenges, contributing to the 'Silencing the
Guns in Africa initiative' and fostering an environment for transformational
development in South Sudan, our region, and the entire African continent,"
Ruto pointed out.
Former Kenya Army commander and mediator of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, which paved the way for South
Sudan's independence, Lazurus Sumbeiywo leads the Tumaini Initiative.
Sumbeiywo commended the assistance of regional and international allies in
furthering the peace process.
He said, "After this launch, we plan to engage in
sustained and continuous mediation to ensure a speedy and comprehensive
resolution of the issues, so long as the parties go along with the plan."
The launch was attended by African Union
Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat; and presidents of countries in the
region, including Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi,
Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia, and Faustin-Archange
Touadera of the Central African Republic, among others.