South Sudan rebels form new coalition after exclusion from Kenya-led peace initiative

JUBA – Five South Sudanese opposition groups excluded from the ongoing Kenya-led Tumaini Peace Initiative have formed a new coalition, the National Opposition Alliance (NOA), to present a unified front in response to their exclusion from the peace talks.

In a statement shared with Sudans Post on Monday, the groups outlined their objective of advocating for unity among opposition factions that have not signed the revitalized peace agreement.

They aim to address the root causes of South Sudan’s ongoing conflict and push for a broader peace settlement with the government.

The groups criticized the government for its failure to implement past peace accords, including the 2015 peace agreement, its 2018 revitalized version, and resolutions from the 2018 national dialogue.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the 2022 Khartoum peace agreement, which sought to reconcile the Kitgwang factions, led by General Simon Gatwech Dual and General Johnson Olony, with President Salva Kiir’s government.

The new coalition includes the Patriots’ Resistance Movement-Army (PRM/A), led by General Laraka Machar Turoal, formerly the military chief of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction before a fallout with Gatwech in July 2023; the South Sudan National Liberation Movement/Army (SSNLM/A), headed by Hoth Guor Lual; the South Sudan United National Front/Army (SSUNF/A), led by Philip Stephen Dak Onwar; the South Sudan Rescue Front (SSRF), headed by Kamin Vigilio Vurve; and the Union Party of South Sudan/Army (UPSS/A), led by Dhoal Tutlual Larjin.

The groups reaffirmed their commitment to federalism, democracy, human rights, and justice, emphasizing that unity within the opposition is vital for ending the suffering of South Sudanese citizens under Kiir’s leadership.

The alliance adopted the slogan “Better Together” and outlined plans to create a unified leadership structure aimed at fostering national reconciliation, economic stability, and peacebuilding.

“We work to regain the lost hopes of our people, rebuild their lives and advance their aspirations of peaceful, prosperous and economically viable country for generations to come,” the statement said.

The coalition’s leadership includes General Laraka of PRM/A as president, Kamin Vigilio Vurve of SSRF as deputy leader, and General Philip Stephen Dak Onwar of SSUNF/A as secretary-general.

Other key members include General Hoth of SSNLM as an advisor for peace, reconciliation, and coexistence, and Dhoal of UPSS/A as secretary for defense and security.

The alliance accused the government of failing to address the “lingering root causes of the conflict” and exacerbating the suffering of the population. They also criticized the repeated extensions of South Sudan’s transitional period, arguing that it undermines the government’s constitutional legitimacy.

Laraka’s faction had been part of the Tumaini Peace Initiative but was expelled after allegations that the PRM had gained members at the expense of other opposition groups, consolidating power in the process.

The alliance’s objectives include establishing a federal system of governance, protecting human rights, and creating a national army loyal to the state rather than individual leaders.

The coalition also pledged to combat tribalism and corruption, protect the country’s natural resources, and promote regional and international stability by collaborating with the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations.

In their statement, the NOA called for inclusivity, pluralism, and respect for sovereignty, urging all South Sudanese to support their efforts for meaningful change.

They also advocated for the voluntary return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons, alongside the opening of humanitarian corridors to provide essential services.