South Sudan opposition groups hope for ‘constitutional conference’ in Kenya

NAIROBI – South Sudan’s opposition groups, including the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), are viewing the peace talks in Kenya with the government as a crucial path towards a national constitutional conference, a potential solution to the country’s long-running crisis.

The groups are part of an ongoing Kenya-led peace initiative aimed at addressing South Sudan’s longstanding issues – a struggling economy, widespread insecurity, and a dysfunctional state. It brought nine opposition groups, divided between SSOMA and the South Sudan Unified National Alliance (SSUNA), to the table with the government.

In a statement today, the opposition groups described South Sudan as a nation in crisis, suffering from economic collapse, widespread violence, and a dysfunctional government. They believe all parties agree on the need to “rescue” the country from this dire situation.

“South Sudan is engulfed in a deep national crisis; its social fabric is torn. Its economy is in ruin, reeling under the toxic effects of state capture and runaway corruption,” SSOMA said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“The state is unable to pay the salaries of civil servants, the army, and the police. Notably, South Sudanese diplomats are rendered homeless in foreign capitals. Rampant violence and insecurity have forced hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in the Protection of Civilians (POCs) camps run by the United Nations in South Sudan, including in the national capital, Juba. Inter-communal fighting is widespread. South Sudan is teetering on the precipice of disaster. All Parties agree on the need for it to be rescued,” they added.

SSOMA welcomed the Tumaini Initiative as “a last golden opportunity to rescue South Sudan from collapse and disintegration.” They praised President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s decision to involve President Ruto and highlighted the initiative’s potential to convene a national constitutional conference in Kenya.

“We expect that the initiative will lead to a national constitutional conference in Kenya and South Sudan in two stages,” SSOMA stated. “The expected outcome of the conference will be (1) the adoption of a new social contract; (2) a constitutional text; (3) interim governance arrangements with a rescue program; and (4) implementation modalities.”

The opposition groups called on the international and regional communities to support the initiative.

“We strongly appeal to the region, the continent, and the international community to support the people of South Sudan in their search for peace and transition to stability and democracy,” they concluded.