Status of the Tumaini Initiative

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Status of the Tumaini Initiative
Date: 14 Dec 2024
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: South Sudan post-secession process
Parties: Not signed, Not signed, agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it:

Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU)

South Sudanese Non-Signatory/Opposition groups (specific groups not named)
Third parties: Not signed, Not signed, agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it:

Government of the Republic of Kenya as mediator/facilitator
Description: The Tumaini Initiative is a Kenya-facilitated mediation effort between South Sudan's Transitional Government and opposition groups to complement the existing R-ARCSS peace agreement. Following seven months of negotiations, the parties have agreed on four key agenda items and developed a draft framework document, though the government delegation has requested a temporary adjournment for consultations in Juba. The mediation process is scheduled to resume in mid-January 2025 with the goal of fostering inclusive and lasting peace for South Sudan. Note that this is a process agreement which contains no substantive provisions.

Agreement document: SS_241214_Status of the Tumaini Initiative (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Office of the Mediator
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: No specific mention.

MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN & DIASPORA AFFAIRS

State Department for Foreign Affairs

Secretariat for South Sudan

Office of the Mediator

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

PRESS RELEASE:

Status of the Tumaini Initiative

The High-Level Mediation for South Sudan (Tumaini Initiative), facilitated by the Government of the Republic of Kenya at the request of His Excellency President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, has been ongoing in Nairobi for the past seven months.

These talks are an important step toward building inclusive and sustainable peace and laying a strong foundation for development in South Sudan.

The negotiations, involving the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) and South Sudanese Non-Signatory / Opposition groups, have made notable progress thus far.

The Parties submitted their positions at the beginning of the negotiations seven months ago, from which the eight protocols were jointly developed.

The current Government position during this phase of the negotiations, which was submitted to the Mediation with detailed presentation, arises in response to the eight protocols.

The Mediation reviewed the Government position paper, identified the issues they raised, consulted the Opposition and Stakeholders, and incorporated their position into four agenda items, out of which a bridging proposal was developed.

The Parties and Stakeholders have thus agreed on the key agenda items required to reinvigorate the mediation process:

1. Relationship between the Tumaini Initiative and the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS)

2. Repetition, mechanisms/structures, and contradictions between the Tumaini Initiative Protocols and R-ARCSS

3. Responsibility Sharing

4. Concluding the Tumaini Initiative

Based on these agenda items and the input of all Parties and Stakeholders, the Mediation has prepared a single negotiating text, called the "Draft Framework for the Tumaini Complement to R-ARCSS".

It urges all parties to approach the talks with openness, political goodwill, and a shared commitment to peace for the wellbeing of the people of South Sudan.

While significant progress has been made, the RTGONU delegation has requested a temporary adjournment to return to Juba for further consultations.

The mediation will resume in mid-January 2025, in Nairobi.

The Tumaini Initiative remains committed to fostering an inclusive and lasting peace for the people of South Sudan.

We urge all stakeholders to maintain momentum and prioritize the aspirations of South Sudanese citizens for unity, stability, and development.

---

Issued by:

The Tumaini Initiative Mediation

14 December 2024

Status of the Tumaini Initiative

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Source agreement