FVP. Dr. Riek Machar Criticized the Tumaini Initiative
First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar has written to the Chief Mediator of High-Level Mediation for South Sudan in Kenya, expressing concerns over a draft document he believes is designed to replace the 2018 peace deal.
The June 19th, 2024, letter is addressed to Lazarus Sumbeiyo and copied to President Salva Kirr, IGAD head of state, UN and African Union.
According to Dr. Machar in his letter, “I am writing to your Excellencies to express my concerns on the mediation draft document titled Tumaini Consensus and implementation framework for a permanent constitutional and sustainable peace for South Sudan.” The SPLM-IO leader said he observed the draft document with serious concerns after a thorough study.
Per Dr. Riek Machar, he stated that the document does not recognize the revitalized agreement and the resolution on conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
Dr. Machar stated that the draft document is designed to replace the 2018 peace deal, underlining that some sections of the document propose alternative institutions replacing or running in parallel with those in the 2018 agreement.
He expresses that the Tumaini Initiative has no power to amend the R-ARCSS, but the party’s signatory to the 2018 accord, which he said is the only agreement that has empowered the Tumaini Initiative to be one of the institutions rather than being a mediation forum.
Per Machar arguments, he said that the Tumaini Initiative is expected to be an annex of the R-ARCSS and not a stand-alone agreement. He stated that the Nairobi peace talks abrogate the R-ARCSS and deviate from its intent to complement the peace deal by ensuring the inclusion of the non-signatories in the implementation process.
