Open Letter to Hon. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, Leader, Government Delegation to Peace Talks

By: Dr. Sunday de John

Dear Hon. Gen. Kuol,

Affable greetings to you and peace,

On behalf of numerous South Sudanese who long for a peaceful and inclusive future, I offer our heartfelt congratulations on your appointment as the leader of the TUMAINI Peace Initiative Negotiation Team representing the Revitalized Transitional Government of the Republic of South Sudan. This appointment inspires hope and faith, suggesting that the negotiation process now has a leader with a national vision.

Your integrity, commitment, and national service give us faith that the TUMAINI Initiative can overcome past obstacles and become a true platform for peace. You can use your charm to eliminate the rowdy conduct of some of the opposition leaders, especially those that spread hatred.

The fact that you are with other experienced national leaders in this endeavor is reassuring. As a team with Hon. Martin Elia Lomuro, Hon. Puot Kang, Hon. Rebecca Joshua Okuachi, Hon. Beatrice Khamisa and Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, your extensive experience, suggests the creation of a formidable and dynamic team capable of leading these negotiations and the country towards sustainable peace.

Your presence as distinguished leaders now bolster our confidence in the TUMAINI Initiative, creating a presumption of a united front that will embrace the multifaceted nature and strength of South Sudan.

This team has the capacity to unify all voices and guarantee that no individual is out of personal hatred and contempt omitted from the peace process.

The prior head of the negotiation team and his behind-the-scenes bosses, regrettably, were prioritizing the interests of a limited group of individuals, namely Gen. Paul Malong Awan, Pagan Amum Okiech, and Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang, they were only interested in their friends, and they acted with no consideration of the country in their heart. Mathem driven by others was in pursuit of a sinister agenda.

Their impact on the process created an atmosphere of exclusivity, which minimized the significance of other opposition groups, thereby rendering TUMAINI a narrow and restricted initiative.

Mediators were pressured by these actors to disregard and silence alternative voices, including the Patriots Resistance Movement (PRM), the United Democratic Revolutionary Movement/Army (UDRM/A), and the South Sudan United Front Progressive (SSUF-P), thereby undermining the legitimacy of their stake in South Sudan’s future.

Their strategy subverted the core mission of TUMAINI, transforming it into a closed forum for a limited group rather than an open platform for the concerns and ambitions of all opposition factions.

Hon. Kuol Manyang, all South Sudanese deserve better. The path to meaningful peace requires the inclusion and consideration of all opposing viewpoints. The preceding team’s complicity enabled individual agendas to eclipse the collective well-being of our constituents, generating a false perception of advancement while exacerbating divisions within the opposition and the country. This conduct has not only diminished the credibility of TUMAINI but also eroded the public trust in the process.

With your leadership, we are confident that TUMAINI will overcome the limitations of personal agendas and become a truly inclusive platform. We advocate for the participation of all willing South Sudanese opposition groups in the negotiation process, to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue.

I propose that TUMAINI should transform into a platform encompassing all South Sudanese opposition voices, where peace is accessible to all, irrespective of past alliances or grievances. By incorporating diverse opposition groups, TUMAINI will acquire the national scope it has long sought, transitioning from a private undertaking to a national initiative capable of fostering sustainable peace.

The two main actors who previously held control of TUMAINI have long been prominent figures in South Sudan’s ongoing conflict. The lack of change in their persistent loathe of others has left our nation teetering on the brink, and their self-interest continues to obstruct the path to peace. Gen. Thomas Cirillo and others are the true holdout groups, but they are left behind because of the conduct of Gen. Paul Malong and Pagan Amum. If we don’t tell the truth, the country cannot move forward.

It is perplexing that those responsible for our present predicament were by permission of both government delegation and mediators entrusted with the authority to impede our pursuit of peace, especially considering the evident shortcomings of their past leadership.

It is vital that the TUMAINI Initiative disentangle itself from coercive and repulsive tactics, including empty threats by Pagan and Malong to withdraw if others are allowed to participate in the negotiation and prioritize the well-being of all South Sudanese. Why do Pagan and Malong want peace, and they think it is not good for others?

Given the critical state of affairs in South Sudan and the yearn for peace, we earnestly request your attention, Hon. Kuol Manyang, Hon. Martin Elia Lomuro, Hon. Puot Kang, and Mama Hon. Rebecca Joshua and Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, to bring a new spirit to TUMAINI. We need spirit of patriotism, extend this to the mediators and the International Community that all South Sudanese matter, it is not only three people that counts but all of them.

May your collective leadership ensure that this initiative fosters inclusivity, transparency, and a shared commitment to peace. Our nation’s business demands the utmost honesty in its handling. Let TUMAINI serve as a source of hope for every South Sudanese who desires a peaceful and unified country where they can have a voice and a future.

I appreciate your dedication to the people of South Sudan and eagerly anticipate seeing TUMAINI thrive under your leadership and the dedication of your team.

Respectfully,

Dr. Sunday de John, (MBChB, MBA-UoN)

Chairman, South Sudan United Front Progressive